J.R. Smith finally finding his shot
After struggling with his shot for most of the season, J.R. Smith has been on fire lately for the New York Knicks, and after posting 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor in a win over the Clippers on Wednesday night, he's now averaging 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.8 steals and 3.2 3-pointers per game over his past five games while shooting 88 percent from the line for good measure.
Smith should be able to have one more great game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday night and will definitely be an interesting player to look at heading into next season's fantasy drafts, depending on how he plays during the postseason. He has a player option for next season, but any sort of playoff success could mean that it's worth it for him to opt out, and it's difficult to know what his value would be like on a different team. Regardless, he's been a useful fantasy option in the past, and now that he's shooting the ball well again it appears he'll be one again in the future.
Looking Back
• With almost half the team out with assorted injuries, rookie forward Tobias Harris got a shot for the Milwaukee Bucks and made the most of it with 15 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks will end the season Thursday night against a similarly depleted Boston Celtics squad, so Harris should be a good play.
• He put up a career-high 31 points in a win over the lowly Bobcats, and it's worth noting that J.J. Redick is ending this season for the Orlando Magic on a major roll. He's averaging big-time numbers over his past five games: 17.2 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 3s and 46 percent shooting from the floor and 95 percent shooting from the line (on four attempts per game). If he could ever put up those numbers for an entire season, he'd be one of the best players in all of fantasy, but as it stands for now just make sure he's in your lineup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.
• Patty Mills started at point guard for the San Antonio Spurs against the Suns with Tony Parker out of the lineup resting, and while he wasn't efficient he did manage 27 points and five assists in 35 minutes. The Spurs face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, and it's a pretty good bet that Mills will score his fair share of points.
Looking Ahead
• The Cleveland Cavaliers spread their minutes around so much on Wednesday night that no one played more than D.J. Kennedy's 31. If you haven't heard of Kennedy (who was the Cavs' best fantasy option on the night), it's because Wednesday night's loss to the Washington Wizards was his first NBA game ever. Needless to say, if Thursday night's contest against the Chicago Bulls is similar, there isn't a player on the Cavs worth having in your lineup unless you are truly desperate.
• As is usually true of late, you'll want to make sure Avery Bradley of the Celtics is in your fantasy lineup on Thursday night. With Rajon Rondo questionable and Ray Allen doubtful, Bradley's going to get big minutes against the Bucks, and even though he struggled last time out against the Miami Heat, he's averaging nearly 20 points on 57 percent shooting over his past five games, and has finally picked up his numbers in steals over the past couple contests as well.
• In addition to the usual injuries to Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, the Houston Rockets will be without Chandler Parsons and Marcus Camby on Thursday night, and that means it's a good night to get Courtney Lee and Chase Budinger into your lineup. The Rockets will be going up against the New Orleans Hornets, and Lee and Budinger should both be in line for big minutes with all the injuries.
• I'm expecting Gerald Green to have a huge night for the New Jersey Nets to finish the season against the Raptors. He's averaging a modest 13.2 points over his past five games without doing much else to help your fantasy team besides knocking down 3s, but his resurgence has been one of the good stories around the league the past few weeks, and it'd be a surprise if he didn't end the year on a high note.
• With Metta World Peace suspended and Matt Barnes out with an ankle sprain, it's going to be up to Devin Ebanks to hold down the fort at small forward against the Sacramento Kings. That could work out OK for the Los Angeles Lakers, but Ebanks is not a player of consequence in fantasy leagues, and it's definitely not worth playing him, even if he's going to play a ton of minutes against a porous defense.
Consider Cousins' potential next draft day
DeMarcus Cousins had his 13th technical rescinded just prior to Tuesday's tilt with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which means he avoided an automatic suspension. He made the most of the run, racking up 32 points (13-22 FG), seven boards, two steals and a block. Cousins has lived up (and down) to all expectations after being selected with the fifth overall pick in 2010. He's been a workhorse (missed only three games in two seasons), who can score (18.1 ppg this season), dominate the glass (10.9 rpg this season) and pile up hustle stats (1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg this season). Of course, he's also proved to be a hot head (a dozen techs this season), who has poor shot selection (43.9 FG% in two seasons) and lacks focus at the free throw line (69.4 FT% for career).
It's scary to think of what he could do if he improved his field goal percentage to something more representative of a 6-foot-11, 270-pound beast. If he even just got on the good side of 45 percent, he'd have a shot at averaging 20-plus points per game. Don't forget he has room to improve when considering him on draft day in the fall.
Looking Back
• When teams with big playoff aspirations like the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics hook up this late in the season, it's no surprise to see a slew of reserves battling each other while the stars rest up. However, despite having absolutely nothing to play for beyond draft picks, the New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors played a game of bench versus bench Tuesday evening. Myriad injuries to both teams have opened up playing time for backups. Marco Bellineli had 23 points and three steals, while Al-Farouq Aminu pulled in 11 boards for the Hornets. Charles Jenkins double-doubled (10 points, 10 dimes) and Mickell Gladness swatted four shots for the Warriors. If you're desperate for warm bodies that will play Thursday, consider the backups from these two squads. The Warriors play the San Antonio Spurs and the Hornets get the Houston Rockets Thursday. Note that Eric Gordon has already been ruled out for the finale.
• As expected, James Harden skipped Tuesday's game due to the concussion he sustained via Metta World Peace's elbow over the weekend. It would be surprising if he were to lace 'em up for the Thunder's season finale tonight. Head coach Scott Brooks spread the minutes around Tuesday to take it easy on the rest of his starters, something we should expect again tonight. With Harden out, Daequan Cook popped off 19 points with four 3s Tuesday. He could be a sneaky play Wednesday.
Looking Ahead
• World Peace has been suspended for the regular-season finale Thursday and six more games that will be served in the playoffs and next season, if necessary. Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks figure to benefit most from his absence in Thursday's game.
• Chris Paul had a typically huge game last night with 34 points (10-11 FT, 4-6 3s), eight dimes and two steals, but he tweaked his groin in the process. Since the Los Angeles Clippers are actually in the playoffs for a change, there's a reasonable chance they will hold CP3 out from their regular-season finale tonight against the New York Knicks. Keep Randy Foye (who failed to score last night), Mo Williams and even Nick Young in mind if CP3 sits or coach Vinny Del Negro limits the minutes of his starters.
• The Philadelphia 76ers wrap up their regular season with a road trip to face the Milwaukee Bucks tonight and Detroit Pistons Thursday. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young are not traveling with the team, so you can count them out. Lou Williams is traveling, though it's not clear if he will play, so check for updates as the game nears. Look for the bench to see a lot of action, regardless, with the likes of Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks and maybe even Spencer Hawes as decent plays.
• In a battle of ugly, the Boston Celtics' bench beat the Miami Heat's bench 78-66 last night. Well, that's mostly true, as Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all skipped the game to rest for the playoffs. Will any of them play in their season finales (Celtics versus Bucks, Heat versus Wizards) Thursday? Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters he intended to use his starters then, but realistically, it will depend on their health. The same likely goes for the Heat. We'll have to check for updates as Thursday gets closer.
• Whether Kobe Bryant plays Thursday, and for how long, likely will depend a lot on how much Kevin Durant scores Wednesday, if he plays. Durant currently leads Kobe in the scoring title chase 27.97 to 27.86. Surely, Bryant wants to pass him Thursday, but considering his recent battle with a shin malady, he may not want to risk aggravating the injury if he has to play the full game to catch up. Stay tuned.
The end-of-season scurry in full effect
Avery Bradley, SG/PG, Boston Celtics: Neither Rajon Rondo nor Ray Allen practiced Monday, so Bradley should again anchor the backcourt against a Miami Heat team that likely will be missing (or resting) multiple regulars. Over his past six games, Bradley is averaging 20.5 points, 2.0 3-pointers, 1.2 steals and 58.6 percent shooting (51-for-87).
Charles Jenkins, PG, Golden State Warriors: Jenkins played all 48 minutes Sunday, finishing with 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Though he can't be counted on for big scoring, Jenkins has put together four straight games of at least eight helpers in place of Nate Robinson (hamstring), who is expected to sit again Tuesday.
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, and Jason Smith, PF, New Orleans Hornets: If you're looking to move up in steals, try Aminu, who's averaging 2.1 takeaways (along with 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds) over his past eight games. Smith's April line isn't eye-catching (12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds. 0.9 blocks), but he does have seven rejections over his past four games.
Mike Miller, SG/SF, Miami Heat: The brittle Miller played 26 and 27 minutes in back-to-back games over the weekend, swishing a total of seven treys against the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets. With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade (finger) and Chris Bosh all in need of rest and/or recovery time, Miller should continue to be a factor offensively. Norris Cole is another possibility should Mario Chalmers (illness) sit again Tuesday.
Looking back
• After resting Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and George Hill against the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers plan to use most of their regulars in their Wednesday finale against the Chicago Bulls. Hibbert and Hill will return to the lineup, though Granger (knee) will get another game off before the playoffs begin.
• With the Milwaukee Bucks eliminated from playoff contention, a number of regulars move from questionable to doubtful for the team's finale against the Celtics on Thursday. Monta Ellis and Drew Gooden seem most likely to sit. Ellis has been dealing with a hand injury, and though he played 38 minutes Monday, he went to the bench with about a minute left. Gooden managed only 13 minutes against the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
• Tony Allen had a career-best eight steals (along with 13 points and eight rebounds) against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Allen's Memphis Grizzlies could still have a chance to earn home-court advantage in the first round when they face the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
Looking ahead
• James Harden continues to undergo league-mandated concussion testing, and it's highly unlikely he'll play again in the regular season. With the Oklahoma City Thunder now locked into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, it's possible that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and/or Serge Ibaka see limited minutes starting with Tuesday's home tilt against the Sacramento Kings. Westbrook, who's shooting just 38.4 percent in April, seems to need a breather in particular.
• DeMarcus Cousins could be suspended for Tuesday's game, but leave him in your lineup. Cousins received his 13th technical foul of the season on Sunday. However, the Kings have appealed the ruling, and the Sacramento Bee is reporting the T could be rescinded. Jason Thompson, who's coming off a huge game (albeit against the Charlotte Bobcats) is an especially intriguing add if Cousins doesn't play. While we're on the Kings, Marcus Thornton (quad) is expected to miss another game.
Walker among final-week impact players
It's home stretch time. With the final regular-season games occurring on Thursday, it's important to keep in mind how many games each team has remaining if you're going to be making any roster decisions or play in a weekly lineup league.
The 76ers, Bucks, Cavaliers, Wizards, Bobcats and Spurs each have three games left, while the Lakers, Mavs, Rockets and Timberwolves have just one. This makes players like Kevin Seraphin (51st on the 30-day Player Rater), Kawhi Leonard (56th), James Singleton (77th), Thaddeus Young (88th), Anthony Parker (94th), Kemba Walker (98th), Gary Neal (110th), Tristan Thompson (120th) and Stephen Jackson (121th) strong plays in the final days of the season. Give yourself every chance to maximize roster value, and feel free to cut bait on mid-level players who have just one game remaining. If you have, say, Luis Scola, who has just one game left, it's completely legitimate to drop him for someone like Tiago Splitter or Byron Mullens, who each have three games. Sure, they're inferior players overall, but three games of them will likely provide more production than one of Scola.
Looking Back
• Amare Stoudemire looked strong in his second game back, scoring 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting with 12 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. He'll be a key factor in any potential postseason success the Knicks hope to have, so even though Mike Woodson would ideally want him as rested as possible for the playoffs, he needs to see how he fits into his system, so Amare should get a solid chunk of minutes in the Knicks' final two games.
• Marvin Williams started at power forward Sunday, scoring 29 points with 11 boards. He's got legitimate scoring ability, with double digits in nine of his past 13 contests, and should be a nice play in the Hawks' final two games of the season riding the momentum of his hot game.
• Stephen Jackson had his best game as a Spur on Sunday, scoring 17 points with five rebounds, two 3-pointers, three assists, a steal and a block in 22 minutes of play. With Gregg Popovich limiting the minutes of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, Jackson should finish the regular season strong, and since the Spurs have three games remaining on their schedule, Jackson is a shrewd pickup for the final week of the season.
• Kemba Walker had 13 points and 11 assists against the Kings on Sunday, and after scoring in double digits in all but two April contests has had a strong finish to his rookie season. With three games left, he'll be an excellent fantasy contributor this week.
• The Lakers-Thunder game was full of elbows and overtimes Sunday, and was certainly not devoid of excitement as the Lakers pulled out a gritty win. Metta World Peace will likely be suspended for the Lakers' final regular-season game, and the minute distribution Mike Brown went with was interesting, as Andrew Bynum didn't get off the bench past the third quarter. Steve Blake, Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill played nearly all the fourth quarter and both overtimes. Hill sparkled, with 14 points, 15 rebounds, a steal and three blocks, and he has a promising skill set and the ability to put up numbers if given the opportunity. While Bynum is clearly still the man in L.A., Hill's strong play should earn him increased minutes in the Lakers' final game, so in deeper leagues if you're looking for some help in rebounds and blocks, Hill could be a one-night fill-in.
Looking Ahead
Jameer Nelson left Sunday's game with a left calf contusion and is considered day-to-day. The team will want their point guard ready to play as close to full strength as possible for the playoffs, so don't be surprised if he sits at least one of the Magic's final two games. If there's a better option out there who plays three games, such as Anthony Parker or Stephen Jackson, don't hesitate to drop Nelson, as you'll want to limit the DNPs on your fantasy squad to close out the regular season. … Dorell Wright and Nate Robinson each sat out Sunday's game, opening up huge minutes for Charles Jenkins, who played all 48 minutes of the Warriors' contest against the Timberwolves. He's a fine option to finish the season, coming off three straight double-digit scoring efforts and playing for a team ravaged by injuries, so feel free to roster him as a late-season addition and ride him while he's hot.
Anthony Randolph's 2012-13 value
Anthony Randolph had yet another double-double for the Timberwolves, who beat the Pistons handily. Randolph finished with 15 points (5-for-10 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the line), 10 rebounds and three blocks in just 27 minutes, and is averaging 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in his past five games.
Randolph has used his significant potential to tantalize fantasy owners before. His draft position will be a major storyline in fantasy leagues next season, as he's shown just enough these past few weeks that he'll be touted as a sleeper all over the place. At this point, it's probably a good idea to remain skeptical, and while he should remain a good fantasy option for the rest of this season, you may want to steer clear of him in next year's drafts.
Looking Back
• It's extremely difficult to know what to expect from him going forward, but it is abundantly clear that when Eric Gordon makes his way into the lineup for the Hornets, he's an extremely productive player even if he's nursing injuries. He had a great game in leading the Hornets to a win over the desperate Rockets on Thursday night and was especially impressive in getting to the line 10 times despite his sore back. It will be extremely interesting to see where Gordon goes in drafts next season considering the gulf between his talent and his ability to stay on the court.
• Elsewhere on the Hornets, Al-Farouq Aminu continues to struggle with his shot, but managed 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He's averaging 10 points and 5.8 rebounds in his past five games. While those numbers are less than impressive, he's throwing in 2.2 steals per game over that stretch as well, which definitely gives him some value if you need a few extra steals in the final few games of the season.
• Darren Collison missed the Pacers' win over the Bucks with a sore groin, and, as expected, George Hill was great filling in. Hill had 22 points (on 8-for-12 shooting), five rebounds, eight assists and two 3-pointers. Hill certainly belongs in your lineup if the Pacers choose to be cautious with Collison heading into the playoffs.
Looking Ahead
• With Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo both out for the Celtics against the Hawks on Friday night, you'll want to make sure Avery Bradley's in your lineup. As I wrote yesterday, Bradley is on fire from just about everywhere lately, shooting 60 percent from the floor and 69 percent from the 3-point line in his past five games. He doesn't do much else lately, but he's going to get a ton of minutes over the Celtics' last few games of the season now that they've locked up the Atlantic Division title.
• With the way the Bobcats are getting destroyed just about every night lately, it's hard to recommend using any of their players, but with D.J. Augustin once again doubtful for Friday night's game against the Grizzlies, Kemba Walker could be a good play if you are in a deep league and desperate for point guard help. Walker managed 16 points and five assists against the Bulls on Wednesday night in a game in which the Bobcats scored only 68, so it's a good bet that he'll get his looks on Friday, too.
• Matt Barnes has been great for the Lakers in the absence of Kobe Bryant, but with Kobe listed as probable for Friday night's rematch (yet again) with the Spurs, it'll be interesting to see what happens to Barnes' production. He's averaged 14 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 3s in his past five games, and under normal circumstances he would definitely belong in your lineup. I'd be inclined to play him, as he managed 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting the last time the two teams met.
• I will be keeping Tyreke Evans on my bench on Friday night when the Kings face the Thunder. Evans has really struggled lately, averaging just 12.4 points on 41 percent shooting over his past five games with no peripheral numbers to write home about. What's more, he's been terrible against the Thunder this season, averaging just 12.0 points on 35 percent shooting in two games.
Bradley's hot shooting continues
Avery Bradley looked phenomenal once again for the Celtics as he filled in at point guard for Rajon Rondo, who missed the win over the Magic with a sore back after a hard fall in New York Tuesday night. Bradley had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting. He had just one rebound, one assist, one steal and one 3-pointer, but it's worth pointing out that he's on an amazing offensive hot streak, shooting 60 percent from the floor and 69 percent on 3s over his past five games.
He belongs in fantasy lineups, but right now he's mainly good for scoring and 3s, and those aren't categories one should expect him to contribute in long term. It's strange that a player with his defensive prowess hasn't been more useful in terms of collecting steals, but it's probably true that the fact that he doesn't gamble is what makes him so good on defense. For now, I'd have him in my lineup, but don't be surprised if he has an off night here and there.
Looking Back
• Nene returned to the lineup for the Wizards on Wednesday night, scoring 14 points to go along with his four rebounds and two blocks in just 18 minutes off the bench. That's extremely good production given the playing time, but with Kevin Seraphin and Jan Vesely playing pretty well in starting roles, Nene's minutes might stay on the low side for the rest of the season.
• Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both missed the Heat's win over the Raptors as they took the night off to rest. With Miami pretty firmly entrenched in the second spot in the Eastern Conference, this could be something that happens a lot over the next week. Unfortunately, Miami doesn't really have any other players worth starting in most fantasy leagues outside of Mario Chalmers, so unless someone catches fire, you'll have to look elsewhere if Bosh and Wade continue to miss action.
• The Nets, too, don't have much to play for these days, and with Deron Williams out of the lineup, it's hard to image the team pressing him back into service if he's not 100 percent ready. Meanwhile, Sundiata Gaines racked up 18 points, six rebounds and six assists in a loss to the Knicks, and now has 13 assists total over his past two games. If you're desperate, he's a decent play in that category as long as Williams is out of the lineup.
• After struggling quite a bit so far through the month of April, James Harden had the best performance of his career against the Suns, as he went off for 40 points on some seriously hot shooting. If you ever considered not playing him due to his recent struggles, this game should make you forget that idea pretty quickly; he's been one of the best players in the league all season, and Wednesday night was a good reminder.
Looking Ahead
• Darren Collison is questionable for the Pacers for Thursday night's game against the Bucks, and that means George Hill, who played 37 minutes Tuesday night against the 76ers, is probably a good guy to have in your lineup. He's averaging 13.6 points, 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 3s over his past five games, and should be good for somewhere around those numbers on Thursday night.
• Make sure you get Jose Juan Barea into your lineup if he's not already there, as the Timberwolves have what looks to be a good matchup against the Pistons. Barea is averaging 17.6 points, 10.6 assists and 2.6 3s in his past five games. With Luke Ridnour out, the Wolves simply have nowhere else to turn at the point guard position, and Barea is playing well enough that he deserves the minutes.
• The Hornets are dealing with a whole mess of injuries to key players, but they got a big performance off the bench from Jerome Dyson in their loss to the Grizzlies. In just his fifth game, the 6-foot-3 guard posted 24 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the floor and a ridiculous 14-for-16 from the line. Clearly, this is a player worth keeping an eye on when the Hornets go against the Rockets on Thursday night; every year there are players who make a name for themselves on bad teams down the stretch, and Dyson could very well be one of those players.
• When the Heat and the Bulls face off, it'll be interesting to see which players actually suit up. Wade and Bosh should be ready to go, and Luol Deng may also be back in the lineup, but Derrick Rose is still a big question mark. As I wrote above, the Heat don't have any rock-solid fantasy options behind their stars anyway, but for the Bulls, Richard Hamilton -- who is averaging 16.8 points, 3.6 assists, 1.6 3s and 52 percent shooting from the floor over his past five games -- could be a good play.
Anthony stays hot, gets triple-double
Carmelo Anthony messed around and got a triple-double against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, finishing with 35 points (13-24 FG, 7-8 FT, 2-4 3s), 10 dimes and 12 boards. He also had five turnovers, but none of his owners are complaining, especially since he's been scorching hot this month, averaging 32.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 3-ppg and 1.4 spg. He's also shooting 51.3 percent from the field in eight April games; keep in mind that he shot under 40 percent before the All-Star break.
He's not the only hot Knick, though. J.R. Smith and Steve Novak came off the bench to combine for 15 3s (Novak had 8), while scoring 25 apiece. According to Elias, that's the first time in NBA history that two reserve players have knocked down at least seven 3-pointers in a game. Keep riding them if you need 3s.
Not coincidentally, Melo's recent statistical explosion coincides with the departure of coach Mike D'Antoni, who was replaced by Mike Woodson. It also coincides in more recent weeks with the physical demise of Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. We have no clue how the New York Knicks will handle personnel matters this offseason, but if Woodson, Melo, Amar'e and Lin all return next season, it will be very difficult to predict exactly how they will fit together and perform statistically.
We may get a little taste as soon as Friday when Stoudemire hopes to return from his back injury. Stay tuned.
Looking Back
• On the other end of the court Tuesday, Paul Pierce returned from his toe injury and looked no worse for wear, as he hit 11 of 19 shots from the field and a whopping 17 of his 18 free throw attempts on his way to 43 points. Unfortunately for the Boston Celtics, Ray Allen failed to return from his ailing ankle injury, as had been expected. It's not clear if he will be available Wednesday evening against the Orlando Magic. The same goes for Rajon Rondo, who kept his double-digit dime streak alive with 13 assists Tuesday but took a tough fall on his back. He played through it, but it's possible it could tighten up overnight.
• All signs pointed to Marc Gasol skipping Tuesday's tilt between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, but he laced 'em up and played 33 minutes. However, he clearly wasn't playing at full strength, as he mustered just 4 points (2-8 FG, 0-2 FT) to go with 3 boards and 3 dimes. The good news for the Griz was that Zach Randolph had 16 points (8-15 FG) and 11 boards, as they took down the Wolves 91-84. Hopefully this is a sign that Z-Bo will help his owners out with a solid finish, as the Grizzlies still have five more games remaining.
Looking Ahead
• San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich kept his starters in action again Tuesday, but with a third game in as many nights Wednesday evening, there's a pretty good chance that Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan could see limited action or a DNP-CD tonight. We may not have an official word until game time nears.
• Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown said that Kobe Bryant "most likely" will not take part in Wednesday's game. After tonight's matchup with the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers have critical tilts with the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday before their regular-season finale next Thursday. It would be somewhat surprising -- and unnerving to Lakers fans -- if Kobe fails to return from his shin injury for those games this weekend.
• Kevin Love said he hopes to return to action on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Love will begin his concussion testing Wednesday. He'll have to pass a battery of tests if he wants to take part in the Wolves' final two games this season.
• Unlike Love, Stephen Curry is officially done for the season. Anyone who was holding on to him to the bitter end can let him go now. His bum ankle limited him to just 26 games in this condensed season and has left everyone wondering whether he'll ever be able to play a full season as a pro. His production when actually on the court was fairly typical, though he averaged just 11.4 shots per game, down from about 14.3 over his first two seasons, which led to a career-low 14.7 ppg. His upside remains top 10, but there's no way to justify taking him in the top 10 next season due to his ankle issues.
• Also likely done for the season is Chris Kaman, who is battling a bruised left tibia. Kaman has a lot in common with Curry, because when healthy, he, too, is capable of stuffing the stat sheet, but he just can't stay healthy. The injury-prone big man will turn 30 in a few days before becoming an unrestricted free agent. His fantasy value next season will depend on where he lands and how well his aging body holds up.
The good news for fantasy owners being driven to the brink of madness by Derrick Rose? Apparently this injury isn't all that serious.
A sore right foot sidelined Rose for Monday's tilt against the Washington Wizards, though he is expected to accompany the Chicago Bulls on their upcoming two-game road trip. For those who've lost track of Rose's myriad of maladies this season, this Chicago Tribune story will get you up to speed.
More injury updates to follow. But you probably expected that.
Looking Back
• The Miami Heat won't push Dwyane Wade (ankle) prior to the playoffs, so he sat for the fourth time in nine games on Monday. As noted by the Miami Herald, the Heat have given D-Wade one night off in three straight back-to-backs, and the team has two more back-to-back sets in the regular season.
• Glen Davis (knee) didn't play against the Philadelphia 76ers, but he said he expects to be back in the lineup for the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Should Davis miss more time, deep-leaguers should take note of Earl Clark's 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks off the bench against the Sixers. Daniel Orton (six points, six rebounds) started for Davis and played only 24 minutes, perhaps due to his four fouls.
• These other Monday inactives are considered day-to-day: Deron Williams (calf), Luol Deng (ribs), Nicolas Batum (quad), Jose Calderon (eye), Marcus Camby (back-wrist) and Chris Kaman (foot). Eric Gordon received a night off to rest.
• With David Lee now shut down, the Golden State Warriors seem to be left with only two realistic scoring options: Klay Thompson (29 points, eight rebounds) and Nate Robinson (20 points, seven assists, three 3-pointers). As of Monday, Robinson was available in more than 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Get him if you still can.
• James Johnson (18 points, five assists, four rebounds) played 32 minutes, so apparently he's back in the good graces of Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who'd recently benched Johnson for reasons undisclosed. The Raptors play just once in the next five days, but Johnson becomes a worthy add by this weekend. Toronto closes with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets.
• I'm a little surprised that J.J. Redick (18 points, two 3s) is rostered in fewer than 40 percent of ESPN.com leagues. Hedo Turkoglu is out for the season and Redick will start the rest of the way. I'm a lot surprised that Delonte West (16 points, two 3s) is available in almost all leagues. West is a good fill-in for the weekend, with the Dallas Mavericks hosting the Warriors on Friday and visiting the Bulls on Saturday.
• Serge Ibaka blocked two shots against the Los Angeles Clippers. It was an off night. In his previous 11 games, Ibaka had no fewer than three rejections. He's averaging a stupefying 4.1 blocks since the All-Star break.
Looking Ahead
• The Boston Celtics should have all or most of their key pieces on Tuesday. Paul Pierce (toe) and Ray Allen (ankle) are expected to play against the New York Knicks, while Kevin Garnett (rest) will be back in action. Garnett's return will mean fewer minutes for Greg Stiemsma, but with Tuesday's five-game NBA slate, Stiemsma is still a quality fill-in for anyone needing to bulk up on blocks. He's coming off a six-block, four-steal showing in a start against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. On the Knicks' side, Tyson Chandler (knee) is hoping to play.
• In the five games Kobe Bryant (shin) has missed, Metta World Peace is averaging 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 3s and 1.8 steals. He's perhaps the safest potential fill-in play for Tuesday, though the San Antonio Spurs will probably use more of their top talent against the Los Angeles Lakers than they did on Monday. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili each played 15 minutes or less against the Warriors.
• Marc Gasol (knee) likely won't play for the Memphis Grizzlies, who visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his foul-plagued clunker on Monday, Anthony Randolph (six points, five rebounds) should still finish strong.
• Darren Collison (groin) played 16 minutes in his return to action, but George Hill (11 points, four assists) got another start in Monday's blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Expect another useful line from Hill (14.8 points, 4.6 assists, 1.6 3s as a starter) when the Indiana Pacers visit the reeling Sixers on Tuesday.
Dwight Howard owners were dealt a crushing blow this weekend with the news that he's got a herniated disk in his back and will rest for 10 days before evaluating whether or not he'll return this season. Stan Van Gundy and the Magic are preparing to play the rest of the season and the playoffs without him, and fantasy owners should be as well, as there's a significant chance he won't return, especially during the regular season. If you have a spare roster spot, hold onto him, as even just a few games of Howard is worth it. If not, I'd say you can feel free to cut bait, as many fantasy owners already have. He's been dropped in 17.7 percent of leagues, and it's hard to believe he'll have much if any impact upon the regular season.
The obvious replacement is Glen Davis, who is averaging 15.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in nine starts this season, but Davis left Sunday's game with a hyperextended knee. Hopefully it's a minor issue and he'll be able to capitalize upon Howard's absence; if he's back soon, Davis is worth a roster spot in every format, since he'd continue to soak up the majority of Howard's minutes. But if Davis misses time, things get thin quickly in the middle for Orlando. Earl Clark, who scored 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting with Davis playing just seven minutes on Sunday, and Daniel Orton, who had 11 points, four boards, five steals and three blocks in 29 minutes, would be the beneficiaries of Davis joining Howard on the sideline for an extended period of time. Orton has the upside, as he was one-and-done at Kentucky, then hurt his knee in the D-League last year as a rookie and didn't play any NBA games. The five steals and three blocks show his potential, and if Davis is also going to miss time, deep-leaguers can grab Orton if you need defense, and Clark if you need offense.
Looking Back
• Delonte West scored 20 points on Sunday, right after dropping 21 points, seven assists and three steals in 44 minutes on Friday, both as a starter for the Mavs. West's skill set is fantastic for fantasy, as he can score as well as get assists, steals and 3-pointers. He's averaging 12.5 points per game in April, his highest of any month this season, and looks to be a critical cog for the defending champs down the stretch. If you need help in the aformentioned statistical categories, with nice field goal percentage thrown in, West is a worthy addition.
• Goran Dragic had his lowest scoring output in more than a month on Sunday, with 12 points to go along with six assists, two steals and a 3-pointer in the Rockets' loss to Denver. Still, he's been unreal since stepping in for Kyle Lowry, averaging 18.1 points, 8.5 assists, 1.8 3s and 1.9 steals per game in 22 starts. Those are borderline first-round fantasy pick numbers, as his No. 3 ranking on the 30-day Player Rater illustrates, and he'll be one of the hottest topics this offseason. He's set to be a free agent, and will likely sign somewhere he can be the starter. Based upon his starting numbers in Houston, he'll undoubtedly be worth an early pick, but just how early? My guess is that fantasy owners will be gun shy given the fact that this stint of productivity is such a small sample size, so I'm writing myself a note and putting it in an envelope marked "do not open until fantasy hoops draft day 2012." In it will read "draft Goran Dragic," with his stat line as a starter underneath.
Looking Ahead
Luke Ridnour hasn't played since April 4, and should remain sidelined, which means more big games from Jose Juan Barea. Barea has rolled off a string of three consectutive double-doubles, including 24 points, 10 assists, three 3s and three steals on Saturday, and is a must-start with Ridnour's return to the team this season in question. … Jose Calderon is unlikely to play on Monday due to his eye injury, so Ben Uzoh is a short-term replacement, after he put up 10 points, three assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block in 26 minutes in Sunday night's contest. Calderon is day-to-day, so don't expect him to be out much longer, but is looking like a no-go for Monday, so adjust your roster accordingly.
C.J. Watson bails out struggling D-Rose
Rose, meanwhile, had an extremely rough night; he was just 1-for-13 from the floor (though he did manage eight assists in 25 minutes). Obviously, Rose is a good enough player that he should be in your lineup as long as he's in the Bulls' lineup, but it's clear at the moment that there might be some rough patches before he gets back to full strength.
Looking back
• Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic has had a bit of an aversion to rebounding of late -- he averaged a measly 3.8 boards in his past five games -- but did manage six rebounds in 33 minutes against the Clippers with Kevin Love (concussion) out of the lineup. Pekovic is worth keeping in your lineup for his scoring and field goal percentage, but if he can start rebounding with the fervor he displayed earlier in the season, he could be a major factor in fantasy leagues down the stretch.
• In other Timberwolves news, Derrick Williams had a terrible game while filling in for Love in the starting lineup, but Anthony Randolph had another productive game (16 points, nine rebounds, three blocks) off the bench. I'd be tempted to play Williams going forward despite his struggles if Love remains out of the lineup, but Randolph should definitely be in your lineup, and could actually be a top-tier fantasy guy for the last few games of the season.
• Brandan Wright has been playing some fantastic basketball of late for the Mavericks, who beat the Warriors on Thursday. Wright had 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, and is averaging 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 64 percent shooting from the floor, over his past four games. He's worth picking up in most league setups.
Looking ahead
• With Pacers starting point guard Darren Collison (strained groin) questionable, Friday night offers a perfect opportunity to get the Cavs' Lester Hudson into your lineup. Hudson is averaging 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in eight games since he joined the team a few weeks back, and has often been the focal point of the offense with Kyrie Irving out of commission.
• Boston's Ray Allen will miss Friday night's game against the Raptors, and that makes it a great night to play Avery Bradley. While Bradley is averaging just 9.8 points and not much else over his past five games, he's also shooting high percentages from the floor and the line, and the Raptors, a pretty mediocre defensive team, tend to give up good numbers to guards. Additionally, if you are desperate for 3-point shooting, you might want to think about playing Mickael Pietrus, who returned to the Celtics' lineup Wednesday and played 29 minutes.
• Make sure Wizards center Kevin Seraphin is in your lineup against the Knicks tonight. Seraphin had 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks against the Magic on Tuesday night, and is averaging 16.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over his past five games.
• Eric Gordon is doubtful and Jarrett Jack will be out for the Hornets against the Jazz, and Greivis Vasquez has been playing pretty well of late filling in for those guys, averaging 13.4 points, 7.3 assists and 1.6 3-pointers over his past five games. He definitely belongs in your lineup.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Fantasy Basketball Blog
The Fantasy Basketball Blog is a look at the previous night's NBA box scores and the wealth of fantasy information they contain. Check in every morning and catch up on all the fantasy-relevant information you might have missed or not had time to glean for yourself. Basketball Blog contributors include ESPN.com fantasy basketball analysts Tom Carpenter, Seth Landman, Neil Tardy, John Cregan, Josh Whitling and Brian McKitish.