Week 9 Fantasy Basketball Planner

The Fantasy Basketball Weekly Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Every week, we provide you with top matchups, the latest news and give you the scoop on injured players.

Fantasy Week 9 (Dec. 22-28)

Teams with four games: Boston, Golden State, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, New Jersey, New Orleans, Portland, San Antonio

Teams with three games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Miami, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah, Washington

Teams with two games: Atlanta, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia

Teams with one game: Phoenix

*All stats heading into play Saturday

Atlanta Hawks
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. OKC, Dec. 27 vs. CHI
Injury Report: No significant injuries
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the two-game slate.
Tough Call: The two-game slate makes even Joe Johnson and Josh Smith risky plays in cumulative scoring leagues. In average-based leagues, Johnson and Smith are no brainers. Al Horford and Mike Bibby should also start in all average-based leagues, but should be reserved -- where possible -- in all cumulative leagues. Marvin Williams is a decent play as a No. 3 or 4 guard in average-based leagues, but he should be reserved elsewhere.
One Week Bust: Al Horford, Mike Bibby

Boston Celtics
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. PHI; Dec. 25 at LAL, Dec. 26 at GS; Dec. 28 SAC
Injury Report: None.
Slam Dunk: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen
Tough Call: The Celtics have some of the best matchups in the league this week, so the only tough call really is not that tough of a call at all. Kendrick Perkins has established himself as a very solid No. 2 center over the course of the last month and the fact he is a four-starter on a week where only nine teams get four games adds to his appeal. Throw in games against Fantasy-friendly Golden State and Sacramento and he becomes an excellent play in any format -- average-based or cumulative.
One Week Boom: Kendrick Perkins

Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. WAS; Dec. 26 at WAS; Dec. 27 vs. NJ
Injury Report: Sean May (knee/out indefinitely); May is not going to be activated by the team until he can prove healthy in practices. He has not been very helpful from a Fantasy standpoint anyway.
Slam Dunk: Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Raymond Felton
Tough Call: The Bobcats have just three games this week, but so do most of the teams in the NBA due to the holiday schedule. The matchups are favorable from a scoring standpoint. The Wizards allow 103.7 points per game and New Jersey allows 102.7 per game. D.J. Augustin is playing through an ankle sprain and is a bit risky for the upcoming scoring period. New acquisition Boris Diaw has been inserted as a go-to-guy and is producing excellent numbers, filling up box scores like he did in his best season with the Suns back in 2005-06. He is an excellent start this week in average-based leagues and even some larger cumulative scoring leagues considering how many other teams also have three games this week. Raja Bell is not yet a recommended start.
One Week Boom: Boris Diaw

Chicago Bulls
Schedule: Dec. 23 at DET; Dec. 26 at MIA; Dec. 27 at ATL
Injury Report: Drew Gooden (ankle/day-to-day); Gooden was held out Saturday after sustaining a sprained ankle Friday night. With a three-game slate, he should be considered a risky play. He will have had three full days to recover before the team next plays on Tuesday in Detroit. Tyrus Thomas (concussion/day-to-day); Thomas suffered a concussion this past Wednesday and he stayed back as the team went on a road trip due to the after effects of the concussion. He has not been producing significant totals lately and should not be activated this week in any league.
Slam Dunk: Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon
Tough Call: The Bulls have three tough matchups this week against teams that allow under 97 points per game. This does not look like it will be a high-scoring week for the Bulls, meaning players like Larry Hughes and Andres Nocioni should be reserved in most formats. Luol Deng is still a decent, but not great play.
One Week Bust: Larry Hughes, Andres Nocioni

Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. HOU, Dec. 25 vs. WAS; Dec. 28 vs. MIA
Injury Report: Daniel Gibson (toe/out until at least late December); Gibson is not practicing fully yet, but could return at some point in the scoring period. As a backup, though, his appeal in Fantasy is limited.
Slam Dunk: LeBron James
Tough Call: The Cavaliers have two tough matchups against good defensive teams in the Rockets and Heat and one good matchup against a Wizards team that gives up 103.7 points per game. Mo Williams is a safe play in any format even with the three games due to the abbreviated schedule league wide. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is back from his ankle injury and seemed to be just fine with 23 points and six rebounds. He is a safe play, but Anderson Varejao saw his role get reduced again with Big Z's return. He should be reserved. Delonte West scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games Wednesday and Friday and is a solid play in most formats.
One Week Bust: Anderson Varejao

Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. MEM; Dec. 25 at POR; Dec. 26 at UTA; Dec. 28 at LAC
Injury Report: Jerry Stackhouse (heel/out indefinitely); He has been inactive since mid-November and likely will not play again until he gets his wish to be traded to a team that will use him more prominently.
Slam Dunk: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry
Tough Call: Josh Howard returned this week after missing 11 games and got off to a slow start, but he managed 20 points in his second game back Wednesday. With a four-game slate that includes favorable matchups against Memphis and the L.A. Clippers, he should start in all leagues. Jose Juan Barea returns to being an unappealing Fantasy option. Erick Dampier is not a recommended option despite the four games.
One Week Boom: Josh Howard

Denver Nuggets
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. POR; Dec. 23 at POR; Dec. 26 vs. PHI; Dec. 28 at NY
Injury Report: Steven Hunter (knee/out until February); Hunter is far from making an impact in Fantasy.
Slam Dunk: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups
Tough Call: The Nuggets have tough matchups against Portland and Philadelphia, but are one of the nine four-game teams this week and get a shot at racking up points against a Knicks team that allows 107.2 points per game. Nene should start in any league that requires two centers. Kenyon Martin has been a little banged up with a sore wrist and is more of an option in deeper leagues as a No. 4 forward because he is not 100 percent. This is a good week to use J.R. Smith for Fantasy owners who need a stopgap.
One Week Boom: Nene, J.R. Smith

Detroit Pistons
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. CHI; Dec. 26 vs. OKC; Dec. 27 at MIL
Injury Report: None.
Slam Dunk: Allen Iverson
Tough Call: The Pistons play just three games this week, but they have two very favorable matchups. The Bulls allow 102.8 points per game while the Thunder allow 102.5. The Bucks are not much better at 98.0 points per game. Richard Hamilton scored 30 points Friday against the Jazz and is averaging 23.4 points over his last five contests after that game. He should start in most leagues while he's hot. Tayshaun Prince is also on an offensive upswing lately with 31 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists over his last two games. Rodney Stuckey is averaging 13.8 points and 9.0 assists over his last five games and should make for an excellent start this week even with the three games. Rasheed Wallace is averaging just 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over his last two games and should be reserved for deeper formats that start two or more centers.
One Week Boom: Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince

Golden State Warriors
Schedule: Dec. 22 at ORL; Dec. 23 at MIA; Dec. 26 vs. BOS; Dec. 28 at LAL
Injury Report: Stephen Jackson (hand/out until at least Dec. 26 vs. BOS); Jackson will miss the remainder of the team's current road trip and that means he will not play until at least Dec. 26 vs. Boston. At best, he would play two games in the scoring period and that is no guarantee. Reserve him this week. Monta Ellis (ankle/could return this week); Ellis is on the active list after serving his 30-game suspension to begin the year. He has a couple of hurdles to clear on the practice court before he can return, but that could happen at some point this week. Even when he does return, though, Fantasy owners should expect him to have some rust he will have to shake off. This is not the week to get him back in the active lineup, but that could be coming soon. Corey Maggette (hamstring/could return this week); Maggette will have to take significant strides this week in practice, but it is possible he could return. There is not enough of a guarantee at this point to use him in Fantasy.
Slam Dunk: Andris Biedrins, Jamal Crawford
Tough Call: The Warriors are one of the nine four-game teams this week and Marco Belinelli has burst onto the scene over the past week, making him an interesting option. He has stepped up due to the absence of Corey Maggette and with Stephen Jackson banged up. Jackson and Maggette could return at some point in the upcoming week and so can Monta Ellis, but Belinelli is worth taking a shot on off the waiver wire if a one-week stopgap is needed. Kelenna Azubuike is also worth taking a similar gamble on.
One Week Boom: Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike

Houston Rockets
Schedule: Dec. 22 at NJ; Dec. 23 at CLE; Dec. 26 at NO; Dec. 27 vs. UTA
Injury Report: Rafer Alston (Hamstring/day-to-day); Alston should return early in the week, but there is no gurantee that it comes on Monday. He could return Tuesday in Cleveland. Start him at your own risk.
Slam Dunk: Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest
Tough Call: The Rockets are one of the nine four-game teams this week. Luis Scola has been a matchup starter all season long for the Rockets and this is a week where he can be of use in cumulative-scoring formats. He can be around an average of 10-and-10 for the week. Shane Battier should remain reserved in Fantasy.
One Week Boom: Luis Scola

Indiana Pacers
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. NJ; Dec. 26 at MEM; Dec. 28 vs. NO
Injury Report: Danny Granger (flu/day-to-day); Marquis Daniels (flu/day-to-day); Troy Murphy (flu/day-to-day); All three players were hospitalized on Friday. Troy Murphy fell sick earlier in the week, but the bug spread to Granger and Daniels and forced them to miss the last two games. Murphy seems to have it a little worse than the other two players and is a riskier play this week. Granger and Daniels should play this week, but Fantasy owners should start them at their own risk and follow up on their status all the way up to roster deadlines. Mike Dunleavy (knee/out indefinitely); Dunleavy likely will not return after the new year.
Slam Dunk: None
Tough Calls: T.J. Ford is back from his groin injury, but is not yet 100 percent. That could take another game or two. Jarrett Jack's Fantasy appeal got a big boost with Ford banged up, but Fantasy owners should not expect 20-plus point performances like he had this week. His production should decline as Ford gets back to full strength. Jeff Foster has some low-end appeal in larger leagues if a one-week stopgap is needed.
One Week Bust: Jarrett Jack

Los Angeles Clippers
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. TOR; Dec. 28 vs. DAL
Injury Report: Chris Kaman (foot/could return this week); Kaman has said that he wants to return either right before or right after Christmas. It seems more likely that it will come after Christmas and Dec. 28 vs. Dallas is not a guarantee. Fantasy owners should play it safe and keep him reserved another week. Ricky Davis (knee/day-to-day); He is not a player that will be activated in most Fantasy leagues even when healthy until he can prove productive over at least a few games.
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the two-game slate.
Tough Call: Zach Randolph, Baron Davis and Marcus Camby are no-brainers in average-based leagues. In cumulative formats, Fantasy owners will have to weigh their options. Marcus Camby is not likely to break out for a big scoring game, but could have a huge game with a combination of rebounds and points. Treat him as a low-end No. 2 center this week. Al Thornton can start as a No. 3 forward in any average-based league, but he should be reserved in all cumulative formats.
One Week Bust: Al Thornton, Marcus Camby

Los Angeles Lakers
Schedule: Dec. 22 at MEM; Dec. 23 at NO; Dec. 25 vs. BOS; Dec. 28 vs. GS
Injury Report: Jordan Farmar (knee/out until at least Dec. 25 vs. Boston); Farmar has a torn meniscus in his left knee and may not play at all in Week 9. Fantasy owners should not start him in any league.
Slam Dunk: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
Tough Call: The Lakers are one of the nine four-game teams this week and will face very favorable matchups against the Grizzlies and Warriors. Derek Fisher has some appeal in larger leagues, cumulative or average-based, thanks to the four-game slate and the favorable matchups.
One Week Boom: Derek Fisher

Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. LAL; Dec. 23 at DAL; Dec. 26 vs. IND; Dec. 27 at SA
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo
Tough Call: The Grizzlies are one of the nine four-game teams this week. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies do not have many consistent Fantasy options for Fantasy owners in cumulative formats to take advantage of the four-game slate. Marc Gasol has some appeal in cumulative formats as a No. 2 center. Mike Conley Hakim Warrick, Darko Milicic have some low-end appeal in cumulative leagues, but only as stopgaps.
One Week Boom: Marc Gasol

Miami Heat
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. GS; Dec. 26 vs. CHI; Dec. 28 at CLE
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion
Tough Call: The Heat have two favorable matchups against the Warriors and Bulls. Rookie Michael Beasley has not been very productive recently, but this is a good week to take a chance on him. The Heat will play two teams that allow over 100 points per game, including a Warriors team that gives up the most points and rebounds in the league. That also bodes well for Udonis Haslem. Mario Chalmers has some stopgap appeal this week.
One Week Boom: Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem

Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: Dec. 23 vs. UTA; Dec. 27 vs. DET
Injury Report: No significant injuries
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the two-game slate.
Tough Call: In average-based leagues, Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson should start. In cumulative formats, Fantasy owners should weigh their options. Luke Ridnour continues to play well enough to consider a No. 3 or 4 guard, but should only be active in average-based formats this week. The Charlie Villanueva/Luc Richard Mbah a Moute combination continues to frustrate Fantasy owners. Mbah a Moute seems to be the hot hand again, but is more of a stopgap option at this point.
One Week Bust: Charlie Villanueva

Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: Dec. 23 at SA; Dec. 26 at NY; Dec. 27 vs. ORL
Injury Report: Mike Miller (ankle/day-to-day); Miller tweaked his ankle this weekend and will be a risky play in cumulative scoring formats. He could miss Tuesday's game in San Antonio.
Slam Dunk: Al Jefferson
Tough Call: The Timberwolves have one very favorable matchup this week against a Knicks team that is allergic to defense and allows 107.2 points per game. Randy Foye should get a shot at one very productive game at least and is a solid play in leagues of 12-plus teams.
One Week Bust: Mike Miller

New Jersey Nets
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. HOU; Dec. 23 at IND; Dec. 26 vs. CHA; Dec. 27 at CHA
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Vince Carter, Devin Harris
Tough Call: The Nets are one of the nine four-game teams this week. Brook Lopez is coming off a 22-point, 13-rebound effort Saturday night against the Heat and is a solid choice as a No. 2 center in cumulative leagues and larger average-based formats. Yi Jianlian is still too spotty to trust in most formats.
One Week Boom: Brook Lopez

New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. LAL; Dec. 25 at ORL; Dec. 26 vs. HOU; Dec. 28 at IND
Injury Report: Peja Stojakovic (back/day-to-day); Stojakovic sat out Saturday, but is expected to return Tuesday against the Lakers. With the four-game scoring period, he should be a safe play in Week 9.
Slam Dunk: Chris Paul, David West
Tough Call: The Hornets are one of the nine four-game teams this week. Tyson Chandler has been a Fantasy disappointment so far this season, but has shown some signs of snapping out of it. He has 20 points and 19 rebounds over his last two games and a 10-and-10 type center can be very useful as a No. 2 option. His matchups are tough this week against Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard and Yao Ming, but he appears to be healthy again.
One Week Boom: Tyson Chandler

New York Knicks
Schedule: Dec. 26 vs. MIN; Dec. 28 vs. DEN
Injury Report: Tim Thomas (illness/day-to-day); He was struggling to produce steady numbers even before falling sick with a stomach virus. He should be reserved in all leagues for now.
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the two-game slate.
Tough Call: Al Harrington, David Lee, Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler retain their Fantasy appeal in average-based leagues. The matchup against Minnesota should be fairly high-scoring considering the fact that the Knicks give up 107.2 points per game and the Timberwolves allow 102.0 points. Fantasy owners should weight their options. Leave secondary options like Chandler reserved where possible.
One Week Bust: Wilson Chandler

Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: Dec. 23 at ATL; Dec. 26 at DET; Dec. 27 at WAS
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Kevin Durant
Tough Call: Jeff Green is averaging 19.4 points over his last five games and should start in most leagues. The matchup against a Wizards team that allows 103.7 points per game bodes well for a solid week in average-based formats and even in most cumulative leagues this week due to the abbreviated schedule. Russell Westbrook is averaging a 13-5-4 line over his last five games and should be useful as a No. 3 guard in any format.
One Week Boom: Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook

Orlando Magic
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. GS; Dec. 25 vs. NO; Dec. 27 at MIN
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howard
Tough Call: Fantasy-friendly matchups against Golden State and Minnesota make up for the fact it is a three-game week, especially in this holiday-shortened week. Jameer Nelson has scored no fewer than 24 points in his last three games and is on a very productive run. Start him in any league.
One Week Boom: Jameer Nelson

Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: Dec. 23 at BOS; Dec. 26 at DEN
Injury Report: Willie Green (ankle/day-to-day); He tweaked his ankle Saturday and could be forced to miss a game or two. In a two-game scoring period, that makes him a player to reserve.
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the two-game slate.
Tough Call: Andre Iguodala is still a must-start this week in average-based leagues, but Fantasy owners in cumulative formats should weigh their options. Andre Miller should not start in most cumulative formats this week. Thaddeus Young and Marreese Sepeights have stepped up their production in the absence of Elton Brand, but are not going to be very helpful this particular scoring period due to the two-game schedule. Lou Williams is averaging 20.8 points over his last five games, but should only be considered as a stopgap in average-based leagues.
One Week Bust: Andre Miller

Phoenix Suns
Schedule: Dec. 25 vs. SA
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: None this week due to the one-game slate.
Tough Call: This is the absolute worst situation any team has had this season in Fantasy as the Suns have the first one-game scoring period of the fall. Even in average-based leagues, the matchup against a Spurs team that allows just 93.6 points per game. Anyone not named Amar'e Stoudemire, Jason Richardson or Steve Nash should sit this week in all Fantasy leagues.
One Week Bust: Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Leandro Barbosa

Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule: Dec. 22 at DEN; Dec. 23 vs. DEN; Dec. 25 vs. DAL; Dec. 27 vs. TOR
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge
Tough Call: Greg Oden is still not putting up consistent numbers, but the rookie can be useful in deeper leagues that start two centers this week. He is averaging 8.2 points and 7.4 rebounds over his last five contests. Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw are in a similar situation this week. Steve Blake scored 22 points with 10 assists and four rebounds Thursday against Phoenix and while Fantasy owners should not expect a repeat of those numbers, he makes for a solid No. 4 guard option this week -- especially in cumulative formats due to the four-game slate.
One Week Boom: Steve Blake

Sacramento Kings
Schedule: Dec. 22 at SA; Dec. 26 vs. TOR; Dec. 28 vs. BOS
Injury Report: Kevin Martin (ankle/out indefinitely); Martin's injury is serious enough that there is no timetable yet for a return. He is not practicing at the moment and is not likely to play this week. Beno Udrih (hamstring/day-to-day); Udrih is dealing with a sore hamstring and could return Monday in San Antonio, although there is no guarantee. Fantasy owners should start him with caution this week. The four-game slate makes it easier to keep him active.
Slam Dunk: John Salmons
Tough Call: Brad Miller is starting to come out of his early season slump. He has two double-doubles in his last four games and just missed another one Saturday night against the Hornets with 13 points and nine rebounds. In cumulative leagues, he's a great start as a No. 2 center this week due to the four-game slate. Spencer Hawes, on the other hand, has seen a decline in production over the last week and should only start in deeper formats as a No. 2 center. Francisco Garcia is averaging 15.0 points per game over his last five games and can be viewed as a very solid start in leagues of 12-plus teams this week.
One Week Boom: Brad Miller

San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: Dec. 22 vs. SAC; Dec. 23 vs. MIN; Dec. 25 at PHO; Dec. 27 vs. MEM
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili
Tough Call: The Spurs have the best matchups in Fantasy this week against four teams that allow well over 100 points. The Spurs could easily score over 400 points this week and that should mean plenty to go around for players like Michael Finley, Matt Bonner and Roger Mason Jr. Think about the Spurs this week if a stopgap is needed.
One Week Boom: Michael Finley, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, Jr.

Toronto Raptors
Schedule: Dec. 22 at LAC; Dec. 26 at SAC; Dec. 27 at POR
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Slam Dunk: Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon
Tough Call: The Clippers have some favorable matchups this week against the Clippers and the Kings. That bodes well for Jermaine O'Neal, who is coming off a 24-point, 10-rebound effort at the Spurs. He is averaging 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds over his last five games and should start as a No. 3 forward or No. 2 center in leagues where he is eligible at the position. Andrea Bargnani and Jamario Moon have been too erratic to trust in Fantasy lately and should be reserved until they can get on some sort of extended streak again.
One Week Boom: Jermaine O'Neal

Utah Jazz
Schedule: Dec. 23 at MIL; Dec. 26 vs. DAL; Dec. 27 at HOU
Injury Report: Carlos Boozer (quadriceps, knee/out indefinitely); Boozer's return date keeps getting pushed back and he could actually require surgery. His prospects don't appear great for him playing this week. He should be reserved at least one more scoring period.
Slam Dunk: Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur
Tough Call: With Boozer unlikely to return this week, Millsap gets another week of Fantasy reprieve. He is averaging 22.0 points and 11.8 rebounds over his last five contests and should be starting in all leagues right now. Ride this gravy train as long as Boozer remains out. Andrei Kirilenko is scoring in double figures regularly again, but is not going to stray far from 10 points, making him more of a No. 3 forward option for leagues of 12-plus teams right now. Ronnie Brewer does not do much outside of being able to chip in 10-plus points from time to time. Right now, he is not even doing that. Reserve him until he can turn it around.
One Week Boom: Paul Millsap

Washington Wizards
Schedule: Dec. 23 at CHA; Dec. 25 at CLE; Dec. 27 vs. OKC
Injury Report: Gilbert Arenas (knee/out until January).
Slam Dunk: Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison
Tough Call: The Wizards have tough matchups this week against the Bobcats and Cavaliers, both teams that allow under 94 points per game. Mike James has been fairly useful since being traded to Washington, but there will be better chances to use him when he faces more favorable matchups. The same goes for Andray Blatche and Juan Dixon.
One Week Bust: Mike James, Andray Blatche

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