In H2H leagues the semi-finals are here. Some of you have dominated your leagues all season long only to arrive without your big ballers (Allen, Pierce, Randolph, Johnson, etc.) when it really counts.  Well giving up is obviously not an option, so it will take some shrewd management to come away with that championship trophy.  Here’s a look at week 4/2-4/8:

Four Games: Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, LA Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Phoenix, Sacramento, Seattle, Toronto, Washington.

Three Games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, Utah.

Two Games: LA Clippers, Orlando.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Nene Hilario, FC: He has turned himself into a serious fantasy force, averaging 19/12/2, 1.8 stls, 1.5 blks, and 64/76% over his last 4 games.  In his fifth year in the NBA, Nene has fully recovered from knee surgery and persevered to deliver his best season to date.  The Brazilian big man is still just 24 years old and should be a nice sleeper in next year’s fantasy drafts.  He’s an efficient athlete and he’s a great contributor in FG% and steals.  Denver is barely hanging on to their playoff lives, and should be playing to win until the very end.  Superstar Carmelo Anthony is day-to-day with an ankle sprain, so Nene will be expected to continue contributing in a big way.  The Nuggets tipoff four times this week, so Hilario should be one of the top fantasy centers.

James Posey, F: The eight-year veteran has been solid and helped the defending champs to their best month of the season, winning 11 of 15 games in March without D-Wade.  Posey won’t light up the scoreboard or the fantasy stat sheet, but he can give you consistency as Miami’s starting SF. He’s a valuable asset in threes and steals and he won’t hurt you anywhere.  JP has four good matchups this week (TOR, @CLE, @BOS, CHA) and can help your squad advance to the finals.

Nate Robinson, G: We talked about the Dunkin’ Munchkin’ last week.  He’s got ups and he’s got range.  Quentin Richardson is officially done, Stevie Francis is sitting with a sprained ankle, and Lil’ Nate is in the Knicks’ starting lineup for the first time this season. He’ll score and hit plenty of threes with the Knicks playing four times this week, so feel free to plug him in again.

Joey Graham, GF: Coach Sam Mitchell is obviously not a Mo-Pete fan.  Graham got the starting nod on Friday and posted 16/12/2 on 6 for 10 shooting, including 2 treys.  It was the first double-double of his career and should be enough to keep him in the starting lineup this week.  The Raptors are still playing hard and the second-year man out of Oklahoma State is a solid play with four games on tap.

Walter Herrman, F: I can’t offer much insight on the Argentinean national, but he’s been hot (18/6/2 with 1.5 threes over his last four) and dropped a career-high 23 points in a win over the Bucks on Friday.  As long as he remains in Charlotte’s starting lineup, I’d recommend keeping him in yours. 

Sasha Pavlovic, GF: The Serbian baller originally stepped up a couple months ago when King James missed a few games, but Pavlovic has started every game in March for the Cavs.  He continues to improve and has displayed his long range shooting with a career high 40.3% from the arc this season. Over his last 10 games, Pavlovic has averaged 16/3/2 with a nifty 2.2 treys, and 1.2 thefts.  He makes a nice utility start with Cleveland hitting the hardwood four times this fantasy playoff week.

Gerald Green, GF: If you feel like rolling the dice, or don’t have any better options you should go with G-Money.  Paul Pierce sat out the Celts’ last game and could shut it down any day now.

Desperation centers:
Jamaal Magloire: Blazers’ frontcourt is suddenly depleted.  Jam Master Mags will get plenty of action down the stretch.
Kwame Brown: Back in the Lakers’ starting lineup… 31.3 mpg in 7 starts.
Brian Skinner: Has seen close to 30 mpg since Valentine’s Day.

We’re in the thick of March Madness and Fantasy Baseball drafts are happening this week, but don’t ignore your NBA obligations.  Here’s a look at week 3/26-4/1:

Five Games: Memphis.

Four Games: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Utah, Washington.

Three Games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Golden State, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland.

Two Games: Sacramento.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Chris Wilcox, FC: In the two games that Ray Allen has missed, Wilcox has erupted for 43 points and 34 rebounds.  It looks like he’s finally starting to live up to the hopes of Terrapin Nation.  This may be his fifth season in the NBA, but Wilcox is only 24 years old and still has room for improvement.  At 6’10 he should definitely be averaging more than 0.5 blocks a game, but his career 53% shooting is legit.  With just a few more mpg and some inspired play, Wilcox will regularly post double doubles as he continues to develop.  He’s got four games coming up, so get him in your lineups.

Chucky Atkins, PG: The veteran journeyman has put together a nifty little season for the dreadful Grizzlies.  Regular starter Damon Stoudamire is out again with a hurting knee, and Chucky has been a decent fill-in posting 16/2/5 with 2 threes and 2.3 steals over his last three games.  He can catch fire at times (see January 24th @ Utah where he dropped 29/4/15 and 6 treys), and with Memphis tipping off FIVE times this week he’s a great guy to plug in.

Hakim Warrick, F: Another Grizzly who’ll be seeing plenty of action this week, Warrick is back in Memphis’ starting lineup and getting big minutes.  The second-year man out of Syracuse has shown significant progress, especially in his shooting percentages (52/78% this season).  He’ll contribute across the board without hurting you anywhere, and with five games on the schedule the Helicopter is a safe bet.

Nate Robinson, G: The Dunkin’ Munchkin’ can leap higher than most little people, and he’s got serious range too (as evidenced by his 8 for 9 from the arc on Thursday).  Quentin Richardson has missed the last couple weeks with a sore back and Jamal Crawford is out for the season, so Lil’ Nate should see plenty of minutes going forward. He can score and drain some treys, but don’t expect too many assists as he hasn’t dished more than 4 in a game all year long (damn, isn’t he supposed to be a PG). Also, if Steve Francis’s knees were to give out Robinson would be primed for a serious breakout.  The Knicks play four times this week, so feel free to plug him in.

Jorge Garbajosa, FC: The 29-year-old rookie has started 59 games for the Raptors this season but is only averaging 28 minutes per game.  However, fellow rookie big man Andrea Bargnani underwent successful appendectomy surgery on Wednesday and will be at least a couple weeks.  This opens up the door for the Garbage Man to finish the regular season with a bang.  Garbo has averaged 33 minutes a night in his last 5 games, and went off for a season high 22 points while connecting on 5 of 9 from downtown.  With four games on tap, those treys from the center slot could be the difference in your H2H matchup this week.

I love the NBA so much, I haven’t watched more than 5 minutes of college basketball this week.  Let’s take a look at week 3/19-3/25:

Four Games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, LA Clippers, Minnesota, New Orleans, Portland, Sacramento, Washington.

Three Games: Boston, Chicago, Golden State, Houston, LA Lakers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, Seattle, Utah.

Two Games: Milwaukee, Orlando, Toronto.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Zaza Pachulia, FC: He started the year on the right foot, but then struggled with some minor injuries and was eventually relegated to the bench for a couple months.  Zaza returned to the Hawks’ starting lineup a couple weeks ago and has really excelled on offense since Joe Johnson’s injury.  Pachulia is averaging 15/10/2 with 1.2 steals, nearly 1 block, and shooting an impressive 50/85% in his last five games.  He’s playing like a top 10 center right now, and is a must-start with four games at home this coming week (SAC, MIA, POR, DAL) where Zaza scores an average of 3 more points then he does on the road.

Tim Thomas, F: Arguably one of the laziest players in the league, Thomas is known for flashing just enough of his talent a couple times a year, to ensure a fat contract with whichever team is willing to bite.  The 6’10 swingman has disappointed just about every team and fantasy owner who’s ever counted on him to make a real difference, but he makes a very nice pickup to plug in this week.  Tim is currently in the midst of a nice little hot streak, averaging 16/4/3 with a whopping 3.2 treys and 51/86% shooting.  Get the “dog” in your lineups as the Clips tip off four times next week (@CHI, @MIL, UTA, WAS).

Larry Hughes, SG: This season, Larry Hughes has been… well, Larry Hughes.  In and out of the lineup with various injuries, erratic play and struggling to jive with his teammates, Hughes is having his worst season since 2002-03 (his first year with the Wiz).  That said, when L-Boogie is healthy he’s a valuable fantasy commodity.  Hughes has recently been starting at PG for the Cavs and posting impressive numbers, averaging 15/6/6 with 1.1 threes, 1.4 steals, and 1 block in March. His percentages can hurt you (40/68% this season), but his contributions in other cats should be enough to help propel your squad to win this week.  Cleveland is on an 8-game win streak, and will see four pretty good matchups this week (@CHA, DAL, NY, DEN).

Linas Kleiza, GF: The second-year Lithuanian expatriate (from Rockville, MD) has broken out with increased minutes in Denver this month.  “Linas the Menace” has posted 16/8/1 with a sterling 2.8 treys and 51/87% shooting over his last five games.  At 6’8, Kleiza is a strong rebounder and has really improved his long range shot (38% from the arc this season).  Don’t expect consistency, but with the Nuggets hitting the hardwood four times this week you could definitely do worse.

Ronald Murray, SG: Injury alert – Chauncey Billups pulled his groin against Phoenix on Friday night.  Flip stepped in and dropped 25 points on 12 for 16 shooting and swiped the ball 6 times.  Billups’ groin strain was apparently not unexpected, as the point guard said “it’s been coming for about two weeks, I’ve been feeling. Finally it just went…” Murray’s value will strictly be tied to however long Billups is out, but don’t be surprised if Chauncey sits out the next few games.  Flip is pretty one-dimensional but he can certainly put up some points for your team.  He’ll have plenty of opportunities with four games coming up (PHI, @HOU, @SA, @MIL).

Chris Kaman, C: A huge disappointment this season, the Kaveman is back in the Clippers’ starting lineup and has reached double-digits in three straight. He’s also swatted 8 shots in those three games. He’s a decent start with a full-schedule on tap.

Sit ‘em down:

Mo Williams, PG: “This season’s Mike James” has failed to score more than 8 points in 3 of his last 5 games and he’s 1 for 16 from long range this month.  The Bucks only play twice this week, so you should look elsewhere… perhaps Anthony Johnson, Sam Cassell, or Steve Francis would be better options.

Here’s a look at week 3/12-3/18:

Four Games: Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, LA Clippers, Miami, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah.

Three Games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, LA Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, San Antonio, Seattle.

Two Games: Washington.

First, a big hand for Big Al.
Four straight double doubles, averaging 26/15/3 with 1 steal and 1.3 blocks in March. Not only has Al Jefferson arrived this season, he has become a bona fide fantasy beast.  Talk about making the leap.  There are only four center-eligible players ranked higher than Jefferson over the last month: Stoudemire, Howard, Camby, and Okafor. Jefferson struggled with injuries, foul trouble, and inconsistent play in his first two seasons, but is now entrenched as the Celtics’ starting power forward for years to come.  I think he beats out the likes of Caron Butler, Kevin Martin, and Andris Biedrins as best steal of the draft (if he was even drafted in your league) this season. His newfound dominance along with his center-eligibility should make him a third round pick in fantasy drafts next season.  And if he continues to improve on his FT% and defensive numbers Big Al could even be projected as a second rounder.  With four games on tap, Jefferson may be the top fantasy center in the league this coming week.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Gerald Green, GF: Speaking of the Celts, Gerald Green is the other youngster who defines the future of the team.  He may have won the dunk contest last month, but the 21-year-old can certainly stroke it too… he’s shooting 41% from long range and 82% from the charity stripe this season.  With both Delonte West and Ryan Gomes sitting out Friday’s game, G-Money started and logged 33 minutes, 17 points and 3 treys.  He’s averaging 1.3 threes in only 20 minutes a game this year, and that number goes up to 2.0 a night when he’s in the starting lineup.  Green is such an exciting and dynamic talent, Boston fans can forget about their record setting 18-game losing streak earlier this season and look forward to the maturation of the young scorer and the rest of the Celtics’ nucleus.  The C’s have won 5 of their last 6 and will hit the hardwood four more times this coming week.  If you need some threes and are feeling green, get G-Money in your lineups.

Richard Jefferson, SF: Like Jason Richardson, RJ has returned to action and will try to salvage what was mostly a lost season.  The Nets are certainly still in the playoff hunt, but they need to turn things around to recover from their current 5-game losing streak.  Jefferson has some rust to shake off: he’s only 4 for 16 in his first two games back, but perhaps we can chalk that up to his facing the league’s top two defenses in Houston and San Antonio.  He’s back in New Jersey’s starting lineup and has four games to look forward to this week (@MEM, @NOK, MIA, LAC), so don’t hesitate to get him back in your lineups. Let’s just hope the Nets get back on track and that RJ’s surgically repaired ankle holds up.

Josh Childress, GF: He’s been a borderline fantasy starter in shallow leagues but now, with Joe Johnson sidelined indefinitely, J-Chill is a no-brainer. He’s one of only a handful of players who comes off the bench for his team, yet remains a solid fantasy contributor day in and day out.  In his first two starts of the season, Childress has played 45 minutes a game and taken 25 shots.  With the increased playing time, an uptick in his numbers is almost assured across the board.  The high efficiency swingman is a great play with three matchups this week.

Earl Watson, PG: Regular starter Luke Ridnour has been out with a herniated disc and “My Name Is” Earl Watson has filled in nicely (to the tune of 15/4/9 with 2 threes and 2.8 steals) over the last four games.  Getting 37 minutes a game over that stretch, you gotta love what the little man can do with plenty of burn.  Watson makes a decent start as the Sonics tip off three times next week.

Sit ‘em down (Just keep ‘em sitting):

Minnesota’s point guards (last 5 games):
Marko Jaric: 30.6 minutes, 5.4/1.6/2.8
Troy Hudson: 29.2 minutes, 10.6/2.0/3.6
Randy Foye: 16 minutes, 7.6/1.4/1.8
Mike James: 11.2 minutes, 2.6/1.2/1.8
Even if you could somehow magically combine the contributions of all four PGs into one slot, that ugly four-headed creature would be far less valuable than one Gilbert Arenas or a Steve Nash.
Conclusion: Avoid like a belligerent homeless man with a turd behind his ear that he uses as a pencil.

Here’s a look at week 3/5-3/11:

Four Games: Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Lakers, Miami, San Antonio, Seattle, Washington.

Three Games: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, LA Clippers, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah.

Two Games: Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Portland.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Cuttino Mobley, SG: The veteran sharp-shooting guard has continued his steady decline in recent years to average 13.2 ppg and 1.1 threes this season, the lowest in those categories since his rookie year.  Mobley is not the player he used to be, but he remains a decent fantasy option.  Despite his modest production in 2006-’07, Mobley has actually stepped up his game over the last month: 16/3/3 with 2.1 treys, 1.1 thefts, and 46/87% shooting.  Kinda nostalgic.  Not that these numbers are terribly impressive, but those slight upticks in all categories really make a big difference for a two guard like Cuttino.  With Livingston out for the year and Cassell missing time due to being elderly, Mobley should continue to produce at his recent elevated level.

Steve Francis, PG: It wasn’t that long ago that Cuttino and Stevie Franchise were one of the best 1-2 guard combos in the league. Man, what a difference a few injuries and a trade to the Knicks can do to a player’s career. Francis just turned 30 last month, but it appears his knees may be on borrowed time. It’s doubtful that he will ever reclaim the rights to his old nickname, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his fantasy relevant days are over.  Just look at the situation he currently finds himself in. New York is technically still in the playoff hunt (they won a game in OT on the road yesterday, so we can give ‘em some credit), and what was once a crowded backcourt has become a shorthanded one.  Jamal Crawford has shut it down for the season and now Quentin Richardson is sidelined with a bad back…  They were two of the team’s top scorers.  It’s no wonder Starbury has dropped 72 points in his last two games.  Little man, Nate Robinson, is in for some increased minutes and numbers, but he’s also sat out the last 3 games with a tummy ache.  This leaves our boy Steve Francis to pick up the slack (if his knees don’t buckle).  Francis scored 26 points in 41 minutes last night, and will continue to see as many minutes as he can handle.  The Knicks only have two games (SEA, @WAS) coming up this week, but this is an opportune time to use Francis while you can.

Matt Carroll, GF: He probably shouldn’t be starting in the NBA, but his 42% shooting from long range has earned him 29 starts for the Charlotte Bobcats this season.  Carroll is in the midst one of his better stretches of the year, averaging 18/5/1 with 2.3 threes, and 49/93% shooting in his last six contests.  At 6’6” he’s starting to realize that he should be able to grab more than 2 boards a game, and he’s actually getting to the line a fair amount (5 FTA/gm since Feb 21) for a white guy from Notre Dame.  Teammate Emeka Okafor is having a career season but hurt his leg last week… he could be shelved for some time.  If you’re looking for some help in threes and percentages, MC is your man this week with three games on tap.

James Posey, SF: Another throwback who may be worth your time in deeper H2H leagues.  With D-Wade out and Kapono struggling, Posey may step it up like the Stereo MCs.  Here’s a telling stat: since February 1st, Posey has had at least one steal in every game except one.  He’s only averaging 27 minutes in his last 15 games, but has managed 1.6 treys and 1.5 thefts over that time.  He’s also got the potential for a couple breakout games (he’s hit 5 threes in two different games over the last few weeks) as Miami has four nice matchups at home next week (ATL, CHI, MIN, WAS).  You could start Jimmy-P over someone like Raja Bell who only plays twice.

Sit ‘em down:

Randy Foye and the rest of Minny’s backcourt: As if we hadn’t had enough of the Foye/James/Jaric combo yielding worthless fantasy mediocrity, today Coach Wittman decided to show them who’s boss by inserting Troy Hudson as the team’s starting point guard.  Hudson logged 46 minutes scoring 26 and dishing 8 assists in the double-OT loss to the Celtics, while the other three combined for 7 points in 40 minutes.  You might wonder why I don’t recommend plugging in Hudson.  Here’s the answer: He hasn’t averaged more than 9.5 ppg since the ’02-’03 season, and he’ll still be competing with three other point guards for 48 minutes of playing time.  This is a fantasy situation I want no part of until Foye is given (and keeps) unobstructed reigns on the starting gig.  The rookie is the only one worth your attention… and with today’s benching and 6 minutes on the court, I think we can all look elsewhere for the time being.

Sorry for the delayed post this week folks.  NBA All-Stars may have been chillin’ in Vegas, but I was tied up most of the weekend.
Here’s a quick look at week 2/19-2/25:

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, Washington.

Three Games: Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Lakers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Utah.

Two Games: Dallas, LA Clippers.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Rudy Gay, GF:  The rookie swingman has put together his best 5-game stretch of the season going into the break.  Gay is averaging 19/6/1 with 2 threes, 0.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks over that span.  With the Grizzlies’ season in the toilet (at 14-40), we can expect the former Husky to remain in the starting lineup going forward.

Randy Foye, G: There’s some serious potential for a huge second half from Foye in Minnesota.  It appears that the T-Wolves have given up on Mike James as their starting PG.  The rookie out of Nova makes for an excellent pickup or even a trade target before your league’s deadline.  It doesn’t look like Foye’s recent brush with the law will have any detrimental effect on the court.  Get him in your lineups for four very sweet matchups this week (@WAS, CHA, PHO, WAS).

Darko Milicic, FC: While generally considered a major bust as the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, Darko has really been limited due to his lack of opportunity over the years.  Granted, you could argue that he wasn’t given the opportunity because he just wasn’t any good… but I don’t think that’s the whole story. Now that he’s starting and getting 35+ minutes per game, Darko should really surge in the second half of the season.  Tony Battie is out with a broken thumb and will be lucky to ever start another game in the NBA.  Battie is another one of those feeble “big men” in the Lorenzen Wright or Jason Collins mold who just doesn’t do much of anything.  Darko should be more of a threat on both ends of the floor especially in the blocks department where he should swat 3+ per game going forward.  He’s a great play with four games coming up.

Jason Kapono, GF: Probably one of the most outrageous statistical feats so far this season is Kapono’s 56% shooting from long range (89 of 159).  I think it’s about time we start giving the former Bruin some credit… He has now started 24 consecutive games for the defending champion Miami Heat, in which he’s posting 15/4/2 with 2.4 treys on 55/91% shooting.  J-Kap has held off the likes of Antoine Walker and James Posey to remain in Miami’s starting lineup and took another step to toward validating his status as a big league sharpshooter by outshining the likes of Nowitzki and Arenas at the 3-point competition over the weekend.  While it will be nearly impossible to maintain his 56% three-point shooting, Kapono can be expected to deliver a solid second half.  Plug him in for three tilts this week.

Who are your picks for a breakout or strong second half this season? Knight? Livingston? Aldridge? Blatche?

The All-Star Break is coming up, and H2H fantasy managers have a challenge on their hands with NBA teams only hitting the floor once or twice this week.
Here’s a look at week 2/12-2/18:

Two Games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee,  New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah.

One Game: Boston, Charlotte, Indiana, Miami, Minnesota, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Washington.

So what’s your point?  Do you need a point?  Here are five PGs that you should have in your lineups even though you probably didn’t start them last week.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

T.J. Ford, PG:  Raptors’ coach Sam Mitchell said that Ford would have his starting job back once he got back to full strength, despite backup Jose Calderon’s inspired play in 8 starts (14/3/10 avg).  T.J. now finds himself back in the saddle after his minutes have inched up every game since returning from a sprained ankle: 16, 17, 21, 26, to 28 minutes in his start last night.  Now that he’s healthy, we can expect the Raptors’ floor general to see around 30 minutes a game.  Calderon will still get his share, but he won’t contribute in enough categories coming off the bench to have a fantasy impact.  Last week both guards were start-worthy, but now’s the time to make the switch… sit Jose down and rev up the Ford.

Shaun Livingston, PG: You gotta give Sam Cassell credit for holding off the youngster for two seasons now, but Livingston has earned more playing time by elevating his game this year.  The Clippers are having a down year, but should be in the thick of the playoff hunt ‘til the end.  Livingston returned to the SLU last night as Cassell was dealing with the flu.  Coach Dunleavy would love for Livingston to continue to improve his game and remain the starter, while Sam I Am serves as the veteran sub.  Shaun is shooting an impressive, career high 46.5% from the floor and has started 27 games this season.  As a starter he’s averaging 12/4/6 with 1 steal and 0.5 blocks.  He has yet to add three-point range to his repertoire (only 5 for 15 this season), but his contributions in other categories definitely make him worth your while.  Have you all noticed the striking resemblance between Livingston and Andre Miller?  Well their stat lines will often look similar as well.  With two games on tap, Sly Sliv deserves the starting nod over Miller (only one game).

Smush Parker, PG: I’m not really a fan of Smush (or sludge or smog for that matter), but he’s posting numbers similar to last season’s “breakout” campaign and is currently on a good run.  Parker’s value comes mainly from his steals (1.6) and treys (1.4) but he’s also scored double digits in 10 of his last 11 games.  As a starting point guard, his 2.3 assists per game have got to be worst in the league, but perhaps with Odom healthy we might see him push that number closer to 4.  The Lakers host the Knicks and Cavs this week, so Smush should be in for a couple decent outings.

Steve Blake, PG:  Did you see the busted lip Ron Artest gave Blake last week?  Dude looked like he was strugglin’.  Blake will never be more than a borderline fantasy starter, but that’s what this column is all about.  Here is another one of those weeks when the ex-Terp/Wizard should be in your lineup.  Iverson has sat out 5 of the last 6 games with a bum ankle and will probably remain sidelined until after the All-Star Break.  This just gives Blake the opportunity shoot more and a chance at more assists.  Take a look at what he’s done so far in February: 12/3/9 with 1.2 threes and 1.0 steals.  Those are some very solid numbers from a waiver wire PG.  The Nuggets host the Warriors and their league-worst defense (107.4 ppg), before visiting the T-Wolves on Valentine’s Day.

Jarrett Jack, PG: While BV may have overvalued Jack a bit on draft day, I certainly underestimated the second-year guard going into this season.  Jack has proven himself as a capable starting NBA guard and shown significant progress over his rookie season.  His contributions have been stellar (12/3/6), particularly in the thefts department (1.3).  He’s shooting a very respectable 44.7% from the field and a pristine 88.2% from the charity stripe.  I’m sure the Blazers are pleased they stuck with him rather than overhyped Sebastian Telfair (now third string on a Celtics team that has lost 100 straight games).  Yes, Jack’s numbers took a slight hit when rookie Brandon Roy returned from injury and went on a tear, but February has actually been Jack’s best month of the year.  He’s averaging 14/4/7 with 2 steals and nearly 1 three per game over his last five.  Keep JJ in your lineups for two matchups this week.

The Super Bowl may be tomorrow, but don’t fret… Head-to-Head’s Up is here to help set your fantasy hoops lineup despite all the distractions.  Most teams have a full schedule coming up before taking a break the following week for the All-Star festivities.  Let’s take a look at week 2/5-2/11:

Four games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, Seattle.

Three Games: Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Milwaukee, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington.

Two Games: New York, Utah.

How terrible is Andrei Kirilenko??? Frustrated owners were hoping for some type of improvement (anything) after they heard Carlos Boozer would miss a month, but what has AK-47 done recently? He scored 9 points on 3 for 14 shooting on Wednesday, and has only 1 steal and 1 block total in his last three games.  He’s reached double digits scoring in only two out of his last nine games.  Perhaps the Soviet Secret Police have something to do with this…  I can’t explain it.  Sit him down this week, and hope for consecutive big games after which you should sell, sell, sell!

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Brandon Roy, G:  The 6th overall pick in last year’s draft has emerged as the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors.  Brandon ROY is averaging a very impressive 17/5/4, 1.2 treys, 1.6 thefts, and 45/91% in 2007.  Despite missing a month early in the season due to injury, the versatile guard has been the only rookie to perform consistently for his team and for his fantasy owners.  Roy’s development has been evident as he’s posted career highs in points (28), rebounds (10), and assists (11) in different games over the last two weeks.  Roy-Roy should be in fantasy lineups regardless of format or the size of your league.  Plug him in for three matchups this week.

Nick Collison, F/C: Seattle’s “Tall Vanilla Latte” (oh my god I love that nickname) has been a beast since returning to the starting lineup last month.  The former Jayhawk has posted 19/13/1 with a steal & a block and ridiculous percentages (62/79%) over his last 11 games.  Collison has obviously stepped it up in the absence of Rashard Lewis, but this is just downright silly for a guy who went undrafted in most fantasy leagues.  He’s played 42 and 46 minutes in the Sonics’ last two games, and is showing no signs of slowing down.  Plus, his center-eligibility makes Collison a pretty sweet commodity.  Keep the Tall Vanilla Latte (you could say he’s “steaming” right now) in your lineups for another four games this week.

Hedo Turkoglu, G/F: Many of us thought that Turkoglu would build on his career season last year, but he has seen a dip in most fantasy categories in 2006-07.  Veteran Grant Hill’s relative good health has helped limit Hedo to around 30 mpg this year, but Hill’s most recent injury (sprained MCL) will shelve him for at least the next two weeks, if not longer.  Meanwhile, Dr. Turk has rediscovered his mojo in recent weeks, averaging 16/4/2 with 1.8 threes, 1.5 steals, and impressive shooting (48/83%) since January 10.  He should be able to maintain his surge and hopefully parlay it into a strong second half this season.  With Hill out and four games on tap, this week is an ideal time to get the Turkish sniper in your lineup.

Vladimir Radmanovic, F: Speaking of Eastern European sharpshooters, VladRad’s fantasy numbers are also benefiting due to an injured teammate… Luke Walton is expected to miss a week with a sprained ankle.  Radman has started the last four games for the Lakers, posting 14/7/2 with 1.8 treys, 1.3 steals, and 55/75% shooting.  As their numbers would indicate, Turkoglu and Radmanovic are very similar players—both in style and production–when given playing time.  Walton had been struggling before his injury anyway, failing to score double digits in 9 of his last 11 games, so if Vladimir can maintain a certain level of consistency he could supplant Walton in the starting lineup.  He’s a solid play for four games next week, regardless.  I suspect Radman might score 30 tonight against the Wizards and find his way onto many fantasy rosters by tomorrow.

Here’s looking at you week 1/29-2/4:

Four games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland.

Three Games: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indiana, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, Seattle, Toronto, Utah, Washington.

Two Games: San Antonio.

Ok… Tim Duncan was one block short of that kind of a triple-double last night, and then 3 turnovers shy of a quadruple-double for that matter.  The Big Fundamental scored a season-high 37 on Wednesday, and is delivering another MVP-worthy season.  Too bad the Spurs only hit the hardwood twice this coming week.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Troy Murphy, F/C: T-Murph has been a disappointment this season, to say the least.  Injuries and a crowded lineup in Golden State took a toll on his fantasy numbers, but as part of last week’s 8-player-swap, Murphy could be the player who benefits most from the trade.  Now healthy and playing alongside Jermaine O’Neal in Indiana, Troy has the opportunity to regain his old form as a double-double machine.  He’s averaging 11/10/2 since joining the Pacers, and it’s also encouraging to see that he was actually averaging career highs in FG%, threes, assists, and blocks despite his aforementioned struggles and a dip in minutes this season. I know. I was surprised to see that too.

Charlie Villanueva, F: Charlie V. opted for rehab and cortisone shots instead of surgery on his ailing shoulder and returned to action last night.  Skillanueva posted an economical double-double (10/10), seeing 30 minutes off the bench in his first game back.  The Bucks have lost 11 of their last 12, so they’ll take anything they can get from Versatile Villanueva.  He could payoff nicely for those of you that had the patience (and bench) to hang on to him the last couple months.  With four matchups on hand, C-Elite should be solid next week as long as he doesn’t have another setback with his shoulder. You can visit CV’s website to learn more fun facts about him… like his many nicknames; and did you know that Big Smooth grew 7 inches over the summer of 2000? (What?! Isn’t that humanly impossible?)

Jamal Crawford, SG: How does someone go from scoring 9 points off the bench one night to dropping a career-high 52 in a game later that week?  I think I remember Tony Delk doing something like that a few years ago in Phoenix, but this wasn’t exactly a huge surprise coming from Jamal Crawford.  His fantasy value and play can be erratic, but you gotta love the very hot hand.

Marcus Williams, G: The rookie out of UConn has been solid in his last two outings (16.5/4.5/5.5), and there is talk of Williams joining the Nets’ starting lineup soon.  Richard Jefferson is out indefinitely, and with Vinsanity and Kidd both being injury risks, Williams makes for a nice high-upside pickup right now.  The Nets tip off four times next week, so Williams could be a decent play in deeper leagues.

Steve Blake, PG:  Could Blake have found a new home in Denver?  Since moving to the Mile High City, the ex-Terp has averaged 10/3/6 with an impressive 2.4 treys and 2.3 steals.  He’s getting 30+ minutes as a starter and will rack up the dimes with both AI and Melo on the court.  Blake won’t be asked to score much, but he’ll shoot plenty from downtown (34 of his 56 shot attempts have been from behind the arc) and is pretty clutch (see: back-to-back threes to seal the deal at Seattle on Tuesday night).  He appears well-suited for Denver’s up-tempo offense and he’s also an underrated defender.  Stevie B will be a good fit in your lineups with four games next week.

Jose Calderon, PG: DM discussed the Spaniard yesterday… you should definitely plug him in as long as T.J. Ford is out of commission (which could be another week).

Another full week coming up.  Let’s look ahead to 1/22-1/28:

Four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Indiana, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah.

Three Games: Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, LA Lakers, Orlando, Portland, Seattle, Washington.

Two Games: Houston.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Willie Green, SG: Iverson and Webber have departed and their 40 ppg need to be made up somewhere.  Yes, Iggy has definitely stepped up his game with a career season, but he has yet to become a legitimate scorer.  Enter 4th-year guard Willie Green who had yet to average more than 19 minutes per game before this season.  Green has started the last five games for the Sixers, averaging 20/2/3 with 1.6 threes in 38 mpg over that stretch.  He should post Cuttino Mobley-type numbers going forward (with weaker percentages), and is not a bad option in deeper leagues.

Samuel Dalembert, C: While Willie Green may be a shoddy replacement for AI, Dalembert is quietly having a career year and has particularly stepped it up in C-Webb’s absence. Take a look at Sam’s monthly averages thus far: Nov – 8 points / 8 rebounds / 1.8 blocks, Dec-11/8/1.9, Jan-13/9/2.5.  He has improved every aspect of his game with increased minutes and most importantly he has not missed any time due to injury this season.  Slammin’ Sammy may finally be coming into his own in ’07.  Plug him in for four games this week and just pray that he continues his healthy streak.

Steve Blake, PG:  You now have the green light to get Stevie “Not the Franchise” Blake in your fantasy lineups.  I never thought this guy could be a starter in the NBA, but there he is starting alongside Allen Iverson in the Nuggets’ backcourt.  The former Terrapin’s shooting will hurt you (39.8% career), but he won’t be taking too many shots in Denver.  More than half of his shots are from long range anyway where he’s hit an impressive 38.4% in his career.  It appears as though he’ll get 30-35 minutes a night in Denver and should be a good source of steals and assists as well.  Blake makes for a good PG3 or utility player, especially with a full schedule this week.

David West, PF: West returned to action last night and produced as if he hadn’t missed a step.  David posted 19/11/3 with 2 thefts after missing 30 games with a sore elbow.  Hornets’ stars Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic are still sidelined with their injuries, so West will have every opportunity to assert himself on offense.  His biggest strength are his high percentages (51/84% last season); categories often neglected by fantasy owners.  West appears to be back to full strength and should be ready to play four games next week.

Delonte West, PG: The Celtics’ starting PG returned to the lineup (bruised back) last night and scored a season high 25 points to go along with 6 dimes and 3 treys.  Off-season acquisition Sebastian Telfair has played his way back to the bench and so West has been handed the reigns as the more reliable veteran.  Delonte and Gerald Green should continue to excel as long as Paul Pierce is out (which now appears to be until the All-Star break).

Sit ‘em down:

Tracy McGrady, GF: That’s right.  Bench T-Mac this week.  He missed last night’s game with his recurrent back problems, and the Rockets only play twice next week, including a game at San Antonio on Wednesday.  Willie or Gerald Green are better options with four games a piece on tap.

Jason Kapono, GF:  Kapono managed only 2/2/1 in 20 minutes last night.  Meanwhile, formerly fat forwards, Antoine Walker and James Posey, have both recently returned to action and are getting plenty of playing time (they combined for 67 minutes last night).  Dwayne Wade is back to full-strength, and Shaq is allegedly scheduled to resume play this week.  It looks as though J-Kap’s stint as a fantasy commodity may be coming to an end.