Happy Friday everyone. Ok, so we got the shortest week of the season coming up before the All-Star festivities begin in Houston next weekend. Most teams are playing two games but there are a handful that hit the hardwood just once next week. Here’s a look at 2/13-2/19.

Two Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Golden State, Houston, LAC, LAL, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Washington.
One Game: Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Utah.

You should pay special attention to matchups and games played this week because the shortage of games means each contest is that much more important. I would recommend benching every one of your guys playing just one game this week, except for maybe Paul Pierce and AK-47. Yes, other teams may ONLY have one more game, but that is really TWICE as much action. So this week may be a rare instance where you should actually consider benching the likes of Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony in favor of a Luke Ridnour or Jumaine Jones.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Kevin Martin, SG – Well it looks like Bonzi Wells may have returned to action a little early reinjuring his groin in just his second game back, an injury that had already kept him out for more than a month. Sacramento will likely keep Bonzi on the bench until at least after the All-star break to ensure that he is completely recovered. In the meantime, K-Mart II has stepped right back into the starting lineup and is playing exceptionally well lately. In three games since Wells re-aggravated his crotch, Martin has been lightin’ it up with 22/6/2 on 71% shooting and a whopping 3.3 treys per night! It’s hard to tell how long Bonzi will be sidelined, but you should keep Kevin Martin in your lineups as long as he’s starting for the Kings.

Jumaine Jones, SF – Another example of a player you should take advantage of while you can. It’s like your cell phone minutes: you gotta use them or lose them (note: Cingular’s rollover plan does not apply in this analogy). Jones has been a very nice fantasy force the last couple weeks while Gerald Wallace has been out. 15/7/1 with 2.4 threes and 1.4 steals over his last ten games ain’t too shabby for an everyday starter, let alone a fill-in. And holy cow! Jones grabbed an impressive 14 boards (career high?) in a win over Philly the other night. Way to clean that glass Jumaine. Despite Charlotte’s league worst 14-36 record and countless injuries, they’ve managed to always have a handful of players with plenty of fantasy value (Wallace, Knight, Okafor, Felton, Ely, and even Brezec & Rush have all been contributors when healthy and getting minutes). You can now add J.J. to that list of “better than serviceable” Charlotte Bobcats. He’s got two home games next week.

Luke Ridnour, PG – It’s been an up and down season for the former Oregon Duck, but Luke is playing well right now and appears primed for a solid second half this season. He is averaging 14.4/3.3/7.4 and 2 thefts in seven games over the last couple weeks. Hopefully he can stay consistent and get back to hitting about 1 three-pointer a night to help his owners land a spot in their H2H playoffs. He’s the starting PG for a Seattle team that scores 102 points a game. Don’t hesitate, plug him in.

Brian Cook, PF – He was inserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup earlier this week when Chris Mihm was forced to sit with a shoulder injury and he has been nothing short of spectacular in three starts: 23/7/1 with 2 trifectas on 66% shooting from the floor. Cook is not your prototypical power forward, in that he is more of finesse player who usually settles for jump shots rather than posting up. Plus, despite his 6’10 frame he is a mediocre rebounder at best. Nonetheless, he’s an excellent three-point shooter, he’s hot right now and getting plenty of minutes… so get him in your lineups for a couple of games next week.

Now Let’s talk a little about the NBA All-Star break. First of all, it is absolute monkeyshine that Wizards’ PG Gilbert Arenas got left off the Eastern Conference All-Star team. What kind of poppycock is this? The man is having the best season of his young career, he is 4th in the league in scoring (28.2 ppg), and he has his team over .500 and in the middle of the playoff hunt. What more does he have to do? Maybe he could give fans the shirt right off his back. Oh wait, he already does that… after every game. His fantasy owners’ votes alone should have been enough to propel Gil into the All-star game. Everyone always complains about various Pro Bowl/All-star ‘snubs’ each year, but this one truly is a classic case of tomfoolery. It’s not like I’m griping and making a case that Redskins’ QB Mark Brunell should be in this weekend’s NFL Pro Bowl game, but Arenas is definitely an all-pro baller in the NBA. Enough said.

How about the slam-dunk contest? Last year was one of the best competitions ever with the Birdman’s 9 missed dunks, Josh Smith’s tribute to Dominique, and Stoudemire/Nash’s creative antics reviving the excitement that used to surround the event in its earlier days. Next weekend Atlanta’s Josh Smith has the courage to return and defend his dunk title and he faces some formidable opponents in Andre Iguodala, Hakim Warrick, and Nate Robinson. The odds-makers favor Smith to repeat, but let’s take a look at the odds to win and the contestants’ specs:
1. Josh Smith, G/F – 7 to 5 odds: 20 years old, 6’9, 225 lbs
2. Nate Robinson, PG – 11 to 5 odds: 22 years old, 5’9, 180 lbs
3. Andre Iguodala, G/F – 12 to 5 odds: 22 years old, 6’6, 207 lbs
4. Hakim Warrick, F – 4 to 1 odds: 23 years old, 6’9, 219 lbs
Personally, I like either Nate Robinson (he’ll surely earn brownie points for his diminutive stature) or Iggy to take the trophy. You can’t discount high-flying Warrick either… he’s the underdog mostly due to name recognition. Who’s your pick to win this year’s Slam Dunk Contest?

The NBA’s last full week before the All-Star Break. Here’s a look at 2/6-2/12.

Four Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, LAC, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington.
Three Games:Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Indiana, LAL, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Kenyon Martin, PF – K-Mart has recovered from bankruptcy and is back in business! 18/9/1, 1.2stls, 1.4blks, 51%FG, 80%FT over his last 10 games. Those are the elusive numbers that his owners were expecting when they drafted Martin. It’s hard to blame those (myself included) that gave up on him before his recent surge, but he is paying dividends for those who were willing to take a chance on him. Camby’s return may cut into his numbers slightly, but as frail as they’ve both been, there’s no telling how long either will remain healthy. K-Mart is a must-start right now and he has four great matchups next week (@GS, CHI, DAL, @SEA).

Mark Blount, C – Blount has always been more shwag than dank as far as big men go, but his change of address may be exactly what he needed. Eddie Griffin is currently starting at center for the Timberwolves, but Blount has been coming off the bench and outplaying him the last three games (14/7/1, 1stl, 2blks, 68%FG). Mark should find himself in the starting lineup in no time. He is a smart play this week with some friendly matchups (@PHO, CLE, UTA, NOK).

Bobby Simmons, G/F – He has been disappointing this season for sure, but the former Wizard has turned it up lately for a Milwaukee team dealing with some injuries. Yet another swingman to add to DM’s list, Simmons has put up 17/4/2 and over 2 rainmakers a night on 57% shooting the last two weeks. You gotta play the hot hand with four games coming up next week.

Jamaal Magloire, C – Magloire is a consistent (yawn) fantasy producer at the five, but he is still killing his owners with atrocious foul shooting this season (54%). It’s hard to explain the sudden drop this year; maybe it has something to do with his new environment/too much Milwaukee’s Best Ice or something. Perhaps all he needs is a new nickname to help elevate his unexciting play and FT%. J-Mag? Jam Master Mags? Jam ‘Lore? Sorry, I’ll stop that now. The FT% is less of a drag in H2H leagues, plus his 11/13/1 and a swat per game over his last seven have been nice. Jammin’ Jamaal (YES!) will be a solid contributor with four contests this week.

Chucky Atkins, PG – How many grown men do you know named “Chucky”? Most of us hear the name and think either, “psycho homicidal doll” or “giant rat that serves up pizza and tokens to kids.” Well this Chucky, after being dumped by Washington, was picked up by Memphis and handed a starting gig as the team’s floor leader. Atkins has scored 37 total points and hit 5 from behind the arc in his first two starts for the Grizzlies. He seems to be the answer they’ve been looking for ever since Stoudamire went down with a season ending injury. Bobby Jackson had a decent run as a starter, but now returns to the bench. Atkins is an excellent pickup right now, especially if you’re looking for some 3-point help. Plug him into your lineups with confidence this week.

Andris Biedrins, F/C – 12/8.5/2.5 over last two games. The 19 year-old Latvian has gotten more minutes than Foyle and Diogu combined over that span. Warriors do hit the hardwood four times next week, so if you’re desperate at center or if you’re feelin’ lucky you could take a shot with him.

Could be some tough decisions to make regarding studs listed as “day-to-day.” Do you bench AI (sprained ankle)? J-Rich (back)? Camby (strained shoulder)? Well it depends on the updated injury reports of course, and what your other options are. I would probably NOT start John Salmons over Iverson, because if AI were to return you’d really get burned. But a Bobby Simmons-type, who is already scheduled for an extra game (4 games rather than 3 or less) and is guaranteed playing time, would be a much safer bet.
You also have to take a look at your H2H opponent and see where their strengths/weaknesses are. If you see that your opponent is starting 4 centers (who will block plenty of shots) and you only have two shot blockers on your entire roster, you probably want to consider punting the category in order to ensure winning FT%, pts, assists, threes, stls, etc. So the whole idea of ‘punting’ or forfeiting a particular category can be a regular strategy that may change from week-to-week depending on your H2H matchup.

Other notes:
Chandler = BIG second half
Jefferson > Perkins… worth the risk, especially if you got a lot of ground to make up in your league (like me).

Who are your picks for breakout candidates the second-half of the season?

A well-balanced schedule next week in the NBA. Let’s look ahead at 1/30-2/5.

Four Games: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, LAC, LAL, Minnesota, New York, Portland, Seattle, Utah.
Three Games: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Delonte West, PG – You really gotta give credit to young Delonte West who has developed very nicely in his second season out of St. Joe’s. He obviously won over the trust of coach Rivers and GM Danny Ainge as they had no qualms about including former lottery pick Marcus Banks in the Davis/Szczerbiak deal. In addition to solidifying his spot in the starting rotation, Delonte has improved his numbers each month this season and is currently putting up stats worthy of a third or fourth round pick. In 13 games in January, he’s averaging 14/5/5 with outstanding 56%FG and 84%FT. He’s also hitting 1.5 treys and 1.5 steals in the New Year. West is a no-brainer with four contests this week, including a home game against the Suns.

Juan Dixon, SG – Should we really be surprised at Juan Dixon’s success on such a barren Trailblazers squad this season? Well, Yes and No. Many of us still sport the “Juan Dixon Yo’ Mouth” Maryland Basketball T-shirts and we will never forget his MVP leadership and clutch play in the 2002 NCAA Tourney. BUT, as an undersized shooting guard, he was never really expected to be a big success at the pro level. Lo’ and behold, Juan has now started 18 straight for the Blazers and is putting up some nice numbers in the NBA. Over that span he’s delivering 17/3/4, shooting an impressive 48% and adding 1 long ball and a 1.4 thefts a game. Those are definitely everyday starter’s numbers, so he should be in your lineup for 4 games this coming week.

Eddie Griffin, F/C – After Minnesota pulled off the blockbuster trade that landed Ricky Davis and Mark Blount, Eddie G’s stint as the T-Wolves starting Center may be coming to an end soon. That said, I doubt the newly acquired Blount will be thrust into the starting lineup right away, so this week may actually be your last chance to get some good games out of Eddie Griffin. Plus, is Blount really a step up from the Kandi Man? He’s definitely a better shooter, but he is lazy on the glass and also a turnover machine with terrible hands. He may end up frustrating coach Casey as much as he did Doc Rivers in Boston. Speaking of frustrating, Griffin has given new meaning to the word for his on-again/off-again owners this season (and every season for that matter), but he has been getting some more consistent playing time lately. Over his last four games he has two double-doubles and is averaging 10/9/1 and 2.5 blocks in an encouraging 31 minutes a night. Of course his percentages are terrible, but he does not really shoot enough to hurt you much in either category. His full schedule and matchups against poor defenses (BOS, @POR, @GSW) make him worth the gamble this week.

Melvin Ely, F/C – Here’s another guy you should take full advantage of while you can. Half of the Charlotte Bobcats can be seen on the bench in their “business casual attire” these days, and the team is relieved to have Ely back this week. With Okafor and Sean May out, Euro-Softy Primoz Brezec has been manning the frontcourt and starting alongside what seems to be four guards every night. Charlotte has lost 13 of 14 and they are desperate for whatever help they can get right now. Melvin has been getting back into game shape this week, but should start and see plenty of minutes going forward. Ely makes a decent start next week, facing three suspect defenses (CLE, ATL, LAL) at home.

Tyson Chandler, F/C - Chandler is back in the Bulls SLU and in two games is averaging 13/11/1 and 1.5 blocks, shooting 84% (11 for 13) from the floor. Sure it’s a small sample, but Mike Sweetney appears to be in coach Skiles’ doghouse with decreased minutes and two straight DNP’s. Keeping Chandler in your lineup this season has been about as safe as riding on recalled Firestone tires, but he is healthy now and may be primed for a second-half comeback. If you’re struggling to find a center, you could do worse than Chandler and his nice matchups this week (@DAL, @NOR, @PHO).

Also: Don’t forget to start Kobe Bryant… He has four games this week, so he could put up 300+ points.
Stevie Franchise has resurrected his season with some inspired play lately. With Grant Hill and Jameer Nelson still sidelined, he and Turkoglu are picking up the slack.
Antawn Jamison is back to his early season form after Eddie Jordan benched him briefly. In six games since returning to the starting lineup he’s been spectacular: 24/10/3, 2.3 treys, 51%FG, 88%FT.

***This week’s blockbuster trades will definitely have an impact on fantasy hoops as well. Peja Stojakovic will not suit up tonight but will likely be Indiana’s #1 option going forward now that O’Neal has been lost for the season. It will also be exciting to see rapper Ron Artest make his debut with the Kings tonight.
Moving to Minnesota may help Ricky Davis improve on his already stellar numbers. He will get plenty of good dishes from KG and could be the team’s new top scorer. Wally Szczerbiak’s numbers may take a slight hit, but he will still be a solid contributor in Beantown.
Also, take note of what GM Danny Ainge said after the Celts/T-Wolves trade:
“We feel like we were moving Mark [Blount] to free up minutes and opportunities for Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson… We wanted to make it easier for the development of Kendrick and Al. That’s a priority of ours.”
Now that is music to the ears of Jefferson/Perkins owners. Out with the old, in with the new. It’s time to give the young guns 30+ minutes a night. It’s a PRIORITY for god’s sake! Al Jefferson could have a monster second-half this season if he could just show some consistency.

Another busy schedule this week. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for 1/23-1/29.

Four Games: New Orleans, Houston, Toronto, New Jersey, LAC, Atlanta, Boston, Milwaukee, Denver, Utah, Golden State, Phoenix, Sacramento, Memphis, Detroit, Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Miami, Minnesota.
Three Games: Indiana, San Antonio, Chicago, Washington, Seattle, Dallas, New York, Portland.
Two Games: LAL.

According to The Salt Lake Tribune, with his point and rebound totals already in double figures in a blowout win over the Raptors, Kirilenko spent much of the fourth quarter trying to get the two assists that he needed to record his first career triple-double. When he was just one short, he grabbed an offensive rebound, passed to teammate Devin Brown, and immediately told him to shoot the ball. Brown converted despite defensive pressure, and Kirilenko celebrated with a fist-pump. Brown said after the game, “I had to shoot it regardless because he’s up there stat-watching.”
…LOL, wouldn’t it be great if all your fantasy players were this adamant about filling their stat-line?

You probably don’t need me to tell you that Andrei Kirilenko (20/9/6, 2.8spg, 3.3.bpg in Jan) and Samuel Dalembert (13/11/1, 3.6bpg, 65%FG) have been wicked monsters lately. That said, make sure AK-47 and Slammin’ Sam are in your lineups this week.
As long as he stays healthy, Magic PG Jameer Nelson looks like an everyday starter for the rest of the season. Minutes should not be a concern whether he’s coming off the bench or not. Grant Hill will be lucky to play half of their remaining games, and Steve Francis’s nickname going forward will now be “Migraine,” since “Franchise” doesn’t exactly fit the bill anymore.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Morris Peterson, G/F – Sharp-shootin’ Mo Pete was never really a flashy fantasy player but he’s been rather solid this season. The former Spartan is posting career highs in pts(14.3), rebounds (4.8), threes (1.9), and has come on strong lately. Over his last 11 games he is averaging 16/5/3 with great percentages (50%FG , 87%FT) plus 2.3 treys and a theft per contest. Save for one game in which he was tossed early for pimp-slappin Vince Carter, Mo Pete has logged 40 minutes a night over that span. Peterson has a full schedule coming up and faces some suspect defenses next week (@LAL, @DEN, CHI, @MIL), so don’t be scared to plug him in like a Glade air freshner.

Josh Childress, G/F – Childress has yet to breakout as many of us had hoped, but he is gradually improving his game and contributing consistently off the bench for the lowly Hawks. It wouldn’t hurt if he were a bit more aggressive on offense as his 54% shooting from the floor and 52% from downtown this season are downright nasty. He’s averaging 10/6/2 with 1 spg, 0.7 bpg, 0.7 threes, and great percentages (59%FG, 75%FT) in January. It’s nothing spectacular but he helps you in every category. Three out of four matchups this week against defenses that rank in the bottom half of the league (CLE, PHO, @CHI) will help fill your fantasy boxscores.

Kenyon Martin, PF – I stopped shopping at K-Mart and gave up on the gimpy Nugget about a month ago, but he’s delivered some big numbers recently. Fresh off consecutive double-doubles, he’s averaging 15/11/1 with a steal and a block over his last four games. I still don’t trust him any farther than BV can throw him, but you might as well roll the dice and get him in your lineup for four games this week, especially while Cotton Camby is still out.

Juwan Howard, F – “Juwan to buy me a six-piece Chicken McNugget?” How lame was that commercial? I hate to recommend such a softy, but you can’t ignore Howard’s numbers in ’06: 18/9/1 on 48% shooting. He’s obviously reaping the benefits playing on a team without Yao, T-Mac, Stromile, and Derek Anderson, so don’t get too excited. Juwan is about as boring as they come, but he can help out right now if you’re in need.

Bobby Jackson, PG – Damon Stoudamire’s backup has put up pretty decent numbers (14/5/4, 1.9 threes, 1spg) since being inserted into the starting lineup a couple weeks back. He may be listed as a point guard but the 33-year-old hasn’t averaged more than 3.3 assists/game since his rookie season. His value is basically limited to 3-pointers and scoring, but he makes a solid start right now while he is healthy and getting plenty of PT (34 mpg in Jan).

Raymond Felton, PG – He’s started seven games in a row now and is beginning to show a little more consistency. He’s averaging 13/5/4 with a respectable 46%FG and 1 three-pointer a game over that span. Starting SG Kareem Rush has been nursing injuries for about a month now, and Brevin Knight is still in and out of the lineup with back spasms. The former Tar Heel should continue to improve and see plenty of minutes this coming week.

I almost listed SG Kevin Martin here, but he has just been too inconsistent over the last month filling in for Bonzi Wells. Check out this interesting stat though: in Martin’s 13 starts, the Kings have a 5-1 record when he plays 37+ minutes, but are only 2-5 when he logs less than 37 min. Rick Adelman would be wise to get his second-year guard more time on the court.
A couple others you should consider: SG Jamal Crawford - now starting while Marbury is out. C Kendrick Perkins - back in Boston’s SLU with Blount soon to be shipped out of town (12.3 pts, 8.3 rbds, 1.3 blks, 68%FG in last 3 starts).

Most teams have busy schedules this week. Let’s take a look at some recent trends and discuss what’s on tap for 1/16-1/22.

Four Games: Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, Minnesota, Houston, Denver, Indiana, Boston, Utah, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Detroit, LAC, LAL, Memphis, Dallas, Toronto, Phoenix, Sacramento.
Three Games: Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Golden State, Cleveland, Orlando.
Two Games: Portland

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:
Chris Kaman, C – Our second favorite ugly-man in the NBA (after Wizards’ starting center Calvin Booth of course) has been on a tear the last couple weeks. He’s playing 36 minutes a night over his last seven games and putting up pretty sick numbers: 17/12/2, with ridiculous percentages (59%FG and 91%FT) and swatting over 2 shots per game to boot. This year is indeed turning out to be Kaman’s breakout season. His stellar play makes him a great start this coming week with four games and fellow big man Elton Brand nursing a sore hip.

Ben Gordon, SG – The former UConn star is Chicago’s leading scorer with 14.4 ppg, so what took so long for coach Scott Skiles to get him in the starting lineup? Well, now that Chris Duhon has been relegated to backing up Kirk Hinrich at the point, the door is wide open for Gordon to really start lightin’ it up. The sharpshooter will be a much better fit alongside Hinrich and should see his numbers go up across the board with more consistent playing time. Gordon’s stats this month (20/2/3, 49%FG, 92%FT, and 13/27 from long range) give you an indication of what’s to come. Plug him in with confidence this week.

Manu Ginobili, SG – Its hard to recommend starting someone currently coming off the bench for his team, but Manu is being eased back into the Spurs rotation and has responded very well since returning from injury shortly after Christmas. Over his last six games Ginobili is averaging 18/3/3, shooting 51%FG and 77%FT, while adding one trey and 2.2 steals, all in just 25 mpg off the bench. Look for the Argentinean’s minutes to continue to climb as he eventually works his way back into Greg Popovich’s starting lineup. In the meantime, it’s safe to put him back in your lineups especially with a full schedule next week.

Danny Granger, F – Many of us have been waiting to see what kind of impact the 17th overall pick out of New Mexico would have with loony Ron Artest on the bench. Granger has shown some promise this month, averaging 12/6/2 with 2 stls, 0.8 blks, and hitting 4 for 10 from downtown. The rookie’s playing time has increased significantly every month jumping from 12.9 to 21.5 to 30.5 mpg from Nov-Jan. Granger is a versatile forward similar to Atlanta’s Josh Childress and definitely has fantasy value as long as he’s got a starting gig. Keep it up Danny boy.

Earl Boykins, PG – Boykins has 25 career blocked shots. How in the world does a man shorter than my mom block a shot in the NBA?? Anyways, Denver’s 5’5 reserve PG is putting up a career-high 14 points per game despite sharing time with Andre Miller and fellow backup Earl Watson. Take a look at his New Year averages: 22/2/5, 48%FG, 97%FT, 2.3 threes, and 1 steal per game. The diminutive Boykins can run between defenders’ legs and hide behind teammates when on the court, giving him a distinct advantage over taller point guards. All jokes aside, now is the time to play Earl while he is hitting 54% from long range and providing that energy off the bench.

Mike Miller, G/F – So he’s an injury prone, on-again/off-again starter, but he’s still got game (especially for a white boy from South Dakota). Miller recorded his first career triple-double (21/10/10) the other night against Sacramento and figures to be in line for more minutes after such a performance. He provides good value in scoring, rebounding and threes, and also makes solid contributions in percentages. You might as well get him in your lineups and hope that he continues his hot streak. He’ll probably drop another triple-double when he visits the Wizards in DC next Sunday.

(Editor’s note: Here at fantasy basketblog headquarters, when you talk, we listen. Apparently a lot of you are in head-to-head leagues, something that DM and I are fairly unfamiliar with. So, we’ve enlisted the help of a new fantasy basketblogger, one who’s experienced in head-to-head leagues, to check in every Monday with tips so that you can set your lineups for the coming week. Let’s all give a warm round of applause to new FBB contributor PR! Don’t worry - DM’s weekly point guard novella will be moved to later in the week. Without any further ado, here’s the first edition of “Head-to-Head’s Up.” Enjoy! - BV)

First of all, I’d like to thank DM and BV for the invitation to contribute a weekly H2H column to their exceptional FantasyBasketBlog. A long time reader, I am now honored to be a contributor at FBB. I apologize to those of you who were looking forward to reading DM’s “As the Point Guard Turns” today, but I’ll do my best to entertain/educate/inspire you in my own way. Also, feel free to visit my Sports Troopers blog whenever you get a chance. This column should help those of you in H2H leagues plan ahead and set your weekly lineups based on recent trends and upcoming games. We all know the importance of consistent minutes when assessing a player’s fantasy value, so in H2H leagues the most important factor to consider is games played on a week-to-week basis. So let’s take a look at how often each NBA team will hit the hardwood this week (1/9-1/15):

Four Games: Seattle, Indiana, Washington, LAL, Atlanta, New York, Sacramento, Orlando, Cleveland, Charlotte, Milwaukee.

Three Games: Utah, Dallas, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Minnesota, Detroit, New Jersey, Phoenix, Memphis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Denver, Miami, Portland, Golden State.

Two Games: LAC
I’m not suggesting you should bench Elton Brand, but you may have better options than Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley this week.

Plug ‘em in, Plug ‘em in:

Jameer Nelson, PG - The second-year guard from St. Joe’s has been showing why he deserves more playing time for the Magic lately. He’s averaging 31mpg over his last 5 games: 22 pts/3.4 rb/5.6 ast, 1.6 threes, 1.6 steals, and 59% shooting from the field. With Grant Hill sidelined Saturday, Stevie Franchise was moved to SG and Nelson got his fourth start of the season. Don’t be surprised if Coach Brian Hill keeps him in the starting lineup even when Hill returns, with SG Deshawn Stevenson possibly coming off the bench instead. He’s a great fantasy play right now while he’s hot and getting consistent playing time. He also has good matchups, facing some soft defenses this week: @LAC (97.0ppg), @SEA (104.7), @POR(95.0), @SAC (100.7).

Kenny Thomas, PF – Thomas was an excellent pickup last week with starting PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim out 6-8 weeks (broken jaw). Kenny may be undersized at 6’7, but he has displayed great rebounding prowess over his career. He should give you nearly 15 pts and 10 boards a night while Shareef is out and is a must-start with four games this week.

Vladimir Radmanovic, PF – Radmanovic was inserted into the Sonics starting lineup when Coach Bob Hill took over last week, was unspectacular in his first two starts, but delivered the goods on Sunday. RadMan shot 10 for 12 from the field including a whopping 8 three-pointers on his way to dropping 30 pts on the Knicks yesterday. As DM mentioned, Radmanovic is a talented/streaky shooter, but he definitely has value now with starter’s minutes. The 6’10 Bosnian sharpshooter has the potential to become a Dirk Nowitzki-type PF down the road as he develops physically and mentally, but for now you’ll just have to be satisfied with his scoring and three-point contributions. Vlad makes a solid start this week as he has four games to get comfortable in his new starting role.

Donyell Marshall, F – The versatile Cavs’ forward is another one of those players with the potential to be a fantasy stud when given enough playing time. Marshall has yet to start a game for Cleveland this year, but has put up respectable fantasy numbers coming off the bench with 10.4/7.4/0.9 and 2 threes, a block and a steal per game. Starter Larry Hughes is out now for 6-8 weeks with a broken finger and Donyell should benefit from a bump in minutes. The Ludacris look-alike is a smart start in your H2H league this week.

Speedy Claxton, PG – Did you know his first name is really Craig? Rookie sensation Chris Paul is expected to miss a week or two with a thumb injury, and Speedy dropped 29 points on Saturday in his first game out. So Claxton should be that much more valuable to your fantasy squad in Paul’s absence. Get him in your lineups this week for three games.

Emeka Okafor, F/C – Last year’s ROY has missed the last 8 games with a badly sprained ankle but is expected to return to Charlotte’s depleted frontcourt on Tuesday. Don’t hesitate to plug him back into your SLU.

Rafer Alston, PG - After a slow start to the season and over a month lost to injury, Alston is back and playing his best ball of the season. Since returning New Year’s Eve, Rafer has posted averages of 15/4/8.5 along with over 2 treys and 2 steals per game in 2006. Alston doesn’t like hearing all the talk about Toronto faring better after dealing him for Mike James, so he is out to prove his critics wrong the rest of the season. He should be a regular fixture in your fantasy lineup.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you all next week. -PR