NBA News/NBA Player News 2/13/07

Hache Man · Feb 13, 2007

Much of this is Fantasy Basketball News

However, it is great info/capping material which keeps you in the

know......

Hot Deng
What do Dick Cheney and Eddie Jordan have in common? Besides residing in Washington, each may be involved in curbing a covert operative. Somehow, though, Gilbert Arenas' career doesn't seem to be in jeopardy. He's just one of the interesting names in this week's edition of Buy Low, Sell High.

[SIZE=+1]Buy Low[/SIZE]

Gilbert Arenas ? PG, Washington Wizards www.eog.com www.therx.ws
www.therx.info www.fantasysportspicks.com
Unless "Agent Zero" has his cover blown like I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby outed Valerie Plame, there probably won't be a better time to target Arenas in trade. Washington's star guard is coming off just his third single-season performance in points this season, recording nine on 3-of-15 shooting on Sunday, and has openly criticized coach Eddie Jordan's emphasis on yanking players for defensive lapses. He might continue to struggle a bit without Antawn Jamison around to take off some heat, but it's hard to imagine this not being one of the lowest points of his season. If you're hoping to pry Arenas away from a buddy, start sending out some offers.

Elton Brand ? PF, Los Angeles Clippers; Boris Diaw ? PF/C, Phoenix Suns; Luke Walton ? SF, Los Angeles Lakers www.eogcontests.com
This trio is the latest in injury-riddled candidates for Buy Low. Back spasms kept Brand out of Monday's loss to Detroit, and his slight decrease in production this season might have some owners fed up and ready to deal. The same ailment also caused Diaw to miss his last game, and the undersized center is questionable to play on Wednesday; Walton will not return before February 21 while recuperating his sprained right ankle. Now, Diaw has been a disappointment this season and is risky even when healthy, but has four-category potential and is a solid utility option. Walton can put up nice numbers in five areas, even though he was cold from long range before getting hurt, and should instantly return to the starting lineup upon being healthy.

Mike Miller ? SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies
If Miller wasn't putting up gaudy numbers before Pau Gasol returned from injury, I'd worry that Memphis trading the big man would hurt the former's stats. And because his numbers have been so outrageous, three of his last four games make it look like he's in a slump. In those games, Miller has averaged just 13.3 points and 1.3 threes. But he faced the exceptional defense of Shane Battier in one of those contests, and we can't expect him to hit three triples in every game. If you can put together an enticing package for Miller, now is the time to target him.

Shane Battier ? SF, Houston Rockets
And speaking of Battier, the veteran swingman is going through a major cold snap of his own. He has failed to hit 10 points in six of his last seven games, has hit only one 3-pointer a game over that stretch and made just three of 18 FG attempts in his last two affairs. But it's also worth noting that his numbers of shots (of both the two- and three-point variety) are down over the previous three weeks; it would be pretty surprising if his stats didn't bounce back.

Corey Maggette ? SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers
This embattled Yankee Clipper isn't the safest option right now, but a trade to the proper place could significantly raise his value. He's been rumored to be on the move all season, and his recent criticism of coach Mike Dunleavy, Sr. certainly hasn't hurt those chances. It's dicey to give up anything of real value for Maggette, but his potential for extra playing time in a new environment makes him an intriguing option.

[SIZE=+1]Sell High[/SIZE]

Paul Millsap ? SF/PF, Utah Jazz
This shot-blocking, glass-cleaning rookie, who just turned 22 on Saturday, had another productive night (13 points, nine rebounds) on Monday without Carlos Boozer. The obvious problem, though, is that Boozer should be back within a few weeks of the All-Star break. I love Millsap's ability and potential, but his stats will take a nosedive upon Boozer's return unless the latter suffers a setback. Millsap also played for just 17 minutes last night, and any owners trying to make trades should include him in all offers.

Luol Deng ? SG/SF, Chicago Bulls www.sportspickwinners.com
Chicago's Sudanese small forward really has come into his own this season. His points, rebounds and field-goal percentage are all up from last year, much the result of an increase in slashing and board crashing and a near moratorium on attempts from downtown, and Deng's last nine games have been excellent. And though he has averaged 20.7 points and 10.1 boards since January 25, his numbers probably won't get any better and his future in Chicago is uncertain. His name continues to be bandied about rumors of acquiring Pau Gasol, reportedly because Memphis has long loved Deng and Chicago would be hesitant to deal Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon, and a trade to Memphis, which already has some talented wing players, probably would set back his value. If you can get something of substance for Deng, it might be wise to swap him while he's hot.

Matt Barnes ? SF, Golden State Warriors www.miamidolphins.ws
Matt Barnes has returned from the ether! The previously little-known forward again has taken advantage of Golden State's injuries, riding a three-game stretch of productivity without Baron Davis, Jason Richardson or Mickael Pietrus being around. Expect that to change, however, once the Warriors get all their players back. Yes, Baron Davis just underwent a seemingly minor surgery on his left knee, and will miss some time after the All-Star break. But the returns of the other two, combined with the presence of Stephen Jackson, will relegate Barnes back to reserve minutes.

Steve Blake ? PG, Denver Nuggets
The sprained ankle of Allen Iverson has done nothing but benefit the stats of Steve Blake, and the fourth-year guard has obliged his owners in February. Blake has averaged 11.8 points, 9.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 threes since the first of the month; owners should be able to use the All-Star break to shop him around their leagues. Unless Iverson's ankle ends up bothering him for the rest of the season, Blake will return to having modest value in the near future.

Leandro Barbosa ? PG/SG, Phoenix Suns
Hey, who says that Blake is the only one that can benefit from being without an All-Star guard? In the three games that Steve Nash has missed, Barbosa has averaged 23.3 points, 5.3 assists, 2.7 threes and 2.0 steals. And like Blake, Barbosa will have another game before the All-Star break to drum up some extra value for his owners. Fantasy teams with Nash might especially be interested in Barbosa, so be sure to work that angle if you're trying to get max value for him.

Hache Man · Feb 13, 2007

Re: NBA News/NBA Player News 2/13/07

Fallen Warriors www.atlantafalcons.ws www.buffalobills.ws
The Golden State Warriors might want to think about making a sacrifice to the basketball gods.

Maybe they should try blowing up a composite ball before their next opening tip? Or perhaps have a bonfire with all the remaining Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy jerseys from the souvenir store?

Thanks to serious injuries to Jason Richardson and Mickael Pietrus among others, this team has already lost 149 man-games with 10 of their players having dealt with health issues. www.greenbaypackers.ws
www.newyorkgiants.ws www.spwsports.com www.eogcontests.com
The news got worse Monday when it was revealed that starting point guard Baron Davis ? likely the most important component of the Warrior offense ? will undergo arthroscopic surgery today on his left knee to clean out debris.

The Davis, J-Rich, Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson attack may one day take the court together for Golden State, but that will probably have to wait at least two weeks, the minimum amount of time B. Diddy is expected to miss.

Of course, this is Baron Davis that we're talking about here. This is the same man who has averaged just 54 games played over the past four seasons. This is the dude who missed 20 games in 2003 after undergoing surgery on the same knee.

Remember that this woe, which has already sidelined Davis for five games, was originally called a bruised knee. He got an MRI Thursday, but that didn't offer any clarity, so Davis was sent for a second opinion. And now he's going under the knife again.

There are no guarantees here, even if Davis says he'll only miss a week or two after the break. Just like our take on flying saucers, we'll believe it when we see it.

The fact is, we won't have a more definitive timetable until Dr. Lombardo ? the man who fixed Davis four years ago ? cuts him open today and sees what he's dealing with.

"It's a bit of a kick in the teeth," Coach Nelson said.

No kidding, Nellie. It's a burn for his owners, too.

In the meantime, watch for more minutes for Monta Ellis, Kelenna Azubuike and Sarunas Jasikevicius. Azubuike has been looking pretty good in B. Diddy's absence, draining five treys in the past two games. Last night, he went off for 23 points.

In today's Dose, we also file injury updates on Sean May, Andres Nocioni, Carmelo Anthony, Mickael Pietrus, Yao Ming, Elton Brand, Luke Walton, Michael Redd, Jason Kidd, Hedo Turkoglu, Steve Nash and Kenny Thomas.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks' five-game road winning streak came to a halt in Utah Monday. Marvin Williams paced the club with 15 points, but he got a bloody nose courtesy of Rafael Araujo's forearm ? not the first time that the failed first round pick took a run at Marvin. Araujo also laid a hard shot on Williams in summer league play. Williams was down on the court for several minutes last night and Araujo, ejected for the incident, left for the locker room to a standing ovation. It's probably the first time most Jazz fans even realized he was on the team. After that episode, both teams took their starters off the floor to avoid any further problems.

Boston Celtics

Good news, Celtics' fans: Boston won't lose a 19th straight game tonight, as the team is idle until Wednesday. And before you write me to blast me for that, know that I am also a Celtics' fan and simply making jokes to cover my own pain. Of course, if they can't beat an almost equally struggling Bucks' team (3-17 since the start of the year) at home tomorrow, I may need some couch time.

Charlotte Bobcats

According to Coach Bickerstaff, the Bobcats are "transitioning back into a different lineup." That's coach-speak for Matt Carroll is about to be sent to the bench for Brevin Knight. Sean May, meanwhile, is still questionable for Wednesday's game with his sore knee. This is really lingering, so just wait until he gets back in there before taking any action.

Chicago Bulls

Andres Nocioni says his plantar fasciitis is improving, but he still has pain. He's missed the past four and will certainly skip tonight's game against Toronto, but is expected to return next week after the break.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Have you noticed that Sasha Pavlovic has led the Cavs in scoring in three of the past seven games? He's starting to gain attention in deeper leagues as a result.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs look to extend their winning streak to eight in Milwaukee tonight. Jason Terry is on a serious roll for the NBA's top team (42-9), chalking up his fourth double-double of the season on Sunday. He's averaging 17 PPG in February, his finest month of the year so far.

Denver Nuggets

Of the six Western Conference Player of the Week Awards Carmelo Anthony has bagged, half of them have come this year. Last week he got the nod for averaging over 30 points, over eight boards and almost eight assists per game over four games. 'Melo didn't seem to need any adjustment time coming back from his lengthy suspension only to find another superstar on his team. He went off for another 28 last night, giving him at least 25 points in 12 of 13 games since returning. The fourth-year forward still leads the NBA with 30.9 PPG. Note that 'Melo bruised his thigh in the first half, and sat out much of the fourth quarter. He says he won't miss any time, however. Marcus Camby returned from a four-game absence (groin, flu), but Nene remained in the starting five. Nice to see Karl reward him for his excellent play since the Cambyman went down. With Nene shifting to the four, it was Eduardo Najero who was sent to the second unit. It's official: Allen Iverson won't play in the All-Star game. With Nash out as well, Elton Brand should get the call, but Zach Randolph also deserves consideration.

Detroit Pistons

You think Chris Webber hasn't made a difference to the Pistons? This team is on fire right now, winners of seven straight and they made pretty easy work of the Clippers last night, thanks to C-Webb's 19 points (6-for-9 shooting), nine boards and two steals. Coming home obviously really agrees with this guy. Time to update our annual Rasheed Wallace Technical Foul Watch. His 15th, received Saturday, was rescinded. That takes him back to 14 and still two shy of the automatic suspensions kicking in. I have no idea how Wallace managed to get that foul rescinded, mind you. He was completely in the face of the refs and even after the tech, 'Sheed continued to mouth off the point where I was making the "T" motion from my living room couch, fully expecting an ejection. But it was not to be. That made me even more upset because, believe me, making a "T" motion isn't easy with a fistful of cheese doodles.

Golden St. Warriors

Stephen Jackson had a fun day yesterday. First he testified in an Indianapolis court room in the trial of the man accused of running him down outside the strip club in the infamous October episode. Jackson then rushed onto a plane to join his teammates for their game in Denver, which is always difficult because of the altitude anyways. Unfortunately, fog caused his flight to be rerouted and he didn't get to the game until halftime. Jackson still managed nine points and four assists in 19 minutes ? pretty impressive when you consider what a crazy day he had. Mickael Pietrus, by the way, remains questionable for Wednesday's game thanks to an ankle injury.

Houston Rockets

Yao Ming's rehab has progressed to the point where he says he's just two weeks away from joining his teammates in practice. He expects to return to game duty in early-March.

Indiana Pacers

Mike Dunleavy is seeing some heavy minutes of late and he's responded with his finest play of the year. He's managed a steal in five straight, has nailed 10 three pointers over the past four and has really found his touch in the last two games, shooting 18-for-27 and managing at least 20 points in both games. Dunleavy gets to show his owners more love on Valentine's Day with Memphis, one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, paying a visit to Conseco.

L.A. Clippers

Hey, I was as surprised as you to turn on the Clippers' game last night only to find out that Elton Brand was out because of his back. He had started every game this year, but had a tough time loosening up his back on Sunday. Obviously this was a bigger problem than believed. At any rate, that two-game week you were expecting out of your first round pick? Yeah, well, that's not going to happen. Let's just hope Brand is able to suit up against Atlanta and make up for it with a huge night. LA's rearranged starting five included Corey Maggette, who came through with 15 points, eight boards and four assists, a line that won't hurt his trade value. In terms of fantasy value, Maggette is likely to get a huge boost if one of these myriad rumors involving him winds up being accurate.

L.A. Lakers

Luke Walton's ankle was given a once over by a foot specialist Monday. It took both a CAT scan and MRI, but it was confirmed that he has an ankle sprain. The diagnosis: he'll miss at least the next two games, knocking Walton out until after the All-Star break.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizz will try to avoid getting swept in a home-and-home series against the Hornets, but it won't be easy now that New Orleans/Oklahoma City is finally getting healthy. Paul Gasol continues to up his trade value. Two straight double-doubles gives him a dozen through 29 games. Gasol is now averaging a career-best 20.6 PPG despite playing almost five minutes less per game than last season.

Miami Heat

Miami is starting to turn it around, going 3-1 last week, and while the return of Shaq is a big part of that, it was Dwyane Wade who got the accolades Monday, bagging his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week Award of the season. Flash, who will start the All-Star game on Sunday, clinched the honor when he dropped 26 points ? 18 in the fourth quarter ? to help beat the Spurs on Sunday. For the week Wade averaged 27.5 points and almost nine assists. Ron Rothstein has done a pretty good job as interim coach of the Heat, leading Miami to a 12-9 mark, but head man Pat Riley is scheduled to return after the break.

Milwaukee Bucks

Michael Redd originally said he planned to play through his injury Tuesday night, but those plans have been nixed and he now says he's out until after the break. Redd has already missed 18 games because of his knee, and he's obviously still nowhere near 100 percent. Things go from bad to worse for Milwaukee as Mo Williams has aggravated his shoulder injury. At this point, he's questionable for tonight's game.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Now that Randy Foye is a starter, it's time for the rook to act like one. So early Monday morning, he reportedly got into a fight at a gas station. Oh, and when I say early, I mean really late, as in after 2:30 a.m. He was cited for disorderly conduct, but he now says he wasn't involved in the actual fight at all, which from the sounds of it was actually a family feud. In the meantime, you should cite Foye for his conduct on the floor and grab him off the waiver wires.

New Jersey Nets

Jason Kidd, troubled by his back the past few games, underwent several hours of chiropractic treatment on Sunday, leaving him a no go for the next two games. Rookie Marcus Williams will get a chance to continue his recent roll.

NOK Hornets

Chris Paul has recorded two straight double-doubles as the Hornets are getting back to their winning ways. Tonight, they look for a fourth straight win.

New York Knicks

Steve Francis played pretty well in his return to the lineup Saturday, but it wasn't enough for the Knicks to win their third straight. They'll try to get back in the win column tonight in LA against the Lakers. Of course, despite Francis' successful return, the team apparently is trying to deal him, and if they can't find a suitor, the Knicks will again think of buying out Stevie Franchise's contract.

Orlando Magic

Grant Hill has an expiring contract, but he doesn't expect to be dealt this season. Hedo Turkoglu's mystery ailment struck again yesterday, forcing him out of practice. He expects to return to practice today and play tomorrow, but doctors remain baffled by his illness. Perhaps it's time to call in an exorcist? Okay, maybe it's unfair to suggest he's possessed. After all, I have yet to hear reports of spinning heads or projectile vomit. But whatever it is that has a grip on the Turk has really sucked his value dry this year. His numbers are down dramatically, and he's shooting only 39.4 percent from the field ? the worst percentage of his seven-year career. Jameer Nelson now has the flu, but it's unclear if it's the "Hedo strain." At any rate, he's questionable for tomorrow night. On the plus side, Keyon Dooling says he'll be ready to return Wednesday from a thumb injury that's sidelined him since January 26.

Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Iguodala has scored at least 21 points in six straight games. Does anyone doubt he'll be among the best fantasy assets in the game down the stretch?

Phoenix Suns www.fantasysportspicks.com

Steve Nash will shut it down until after the All-Star break, skipping Wednesday's game, Saturday's skills competition and the actual All-Star game on Sunday of course. Honestly, if you own him, you'd rather Nash deal with this now and come back 100 percent for the second half. He expects to play again on February 20.

Portland Trailblazers

Jarrett Jack looks to continue his solid play and lead the Trail Blazers to a third straight win tonight against Miami. It won't be easy as Portland has dropped four straight to the Heat. Jack has 38 points with three 3-pointers over the last two games and his work on the glass has been better lately as well.

Sacramento Kings

Kenny Thomas, who missed last game with a strained back, will be a game-time decision tonight. Brad Miller is already out, so Coach Musselman may try SAR at center, with Ron Artest taking PF. Otherwise, look for rookie Justin Williams to get his second career start if Thomas can't suit up.

San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan has been doing his part defensively with 27 boards (19 defensive) in the past two games, but what's going on with San Antonio's D? The Spurs had a tough time during their Florida vacation, dropping two in a row, giving up triple digits in each one. Fortunately, they get the Nets tonight, a team they've won seven straight against.

Seattle Sonics

Coach Hill was very complimentary of Johan Petro's play on Sunday, saying it was "the best he's ever played as a Sonic." With Nick Collison sliding lately, could the Eiffel Tower be poised to earn more PT? If nothing else, it's a situation worth watching, much as the Seattle center spot has been most of the season.

Toronto Raptors

As an ardent follower of Toronto, I've been swept away in the wave of excitement this year along with the rest of Raptor Nation. However, I have maintained that the true acid test for the Raptors will be breaking the Bulls' spell. Chicago has beaten Toronto 15 straight times, and I won't believe the Raptors are truly capable of doing anything until that streak ends. They'll get their chance tonight, as T.J. Ford looks to build on his big game Saturday in which he registered his 13th double-double of the year, a new career high.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz haven't missed a note since Carlos Boozer went down. Mehmet Okur stepped up Monday with 19 points and six boards to pace the club to its fifth straight victory. Okur's still getting over stomach flu, so the easy win worked out well as he was able to sit out the fourth quarter. He nailed a pair of long distance shots and did some great work at the stripe (9-for-10) before calling it a night.

Washington Wizards

Team captain Antawn Jamison felt it was time to have a little chat with Gilbert Arenas after Agent Zero had some less than choice things to say about Coach Jordan. "It's like a little brother," Jamison said. "Every now and then you have to spank 'em on the (backside)." Uh yeah. Maybe you should keep those details in the locker room. At any rate, Arenas met with Jordan to clear the air and the club had a players-only meeting, its first of the season. Between the ongoing Brendan Haywood-Etan Thomas spat and now this, Washington's fortunes have slid in a real hurry, as it's dropped from the No. 1 seed to No. 3.

Hache Man · Feb 13, 2007