Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is our weekly look at the best and worst matchups from around the NBA and how they might affect lineup decisions for your Fantasy Basketball team. We are not in the business of stating the obvious, so you won't be reading here why you need to start LeBron James or why you need to sit Brian Scalabrine. We want to give you some help with some of the tough lineup decisions.
Sophomores are an interesting breed in the NBA. They always either seem to be on the verge of a breakout or a breakdown, depending on the situation.
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| Jeff Green is averaging a respectable 16.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg this season. (Getty Images) |
The beautiful thing about Fantasy is our ability to completely disregard the records of the teams the players we own have sprawled across their jerseys. That's why we still own Wizards and Kings and, of course the saddest of all, Thunder. And since those very Thunder play the maximum four games over Fantasy Week 11 (Jan. 5-11) against some pretty poor defensive clubs, the fact that we expect them to lose doesn't change the notion that some of their players are great starts this week. Since you already know you should be starting Durant in all formats, that makes the Green our Start of the Week.
Green is averaging a very respectable 16.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, both numbers well above his rookie season tallies. He's struggled at times, as all sophomores do, but currently is on a nice little streak with double digits in 12 straight games. He's averaging 20 points and 7.2 boards over his last five and has also played like a Rotisserie stud with 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks and almost two threes per night over that stretch.
The Thunder play at home against the Knicks, at Minnesota, vs. Houston and at Chicago next week and only one of those teams -- the Rockets at No. 8 -- rank better than 24th in the NBA in defense. Houston gives up 94.1 points per game but of their other three opponents, Minnesota is best allowing 102.6 points per night. Green should have no trouble dropping big scoring numbers next week and the Thunder have such a favorable schedule we might even see win No. 5 at some point in the coming days. That doesn't matter, however. What matters is Green is hot right now and the schedule makes the Georgetown product prime to continue producing in Week 11 of his sophomore year in the NBA.
Guards
Start 'Em
Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers (Jan. 6 at DAL; Jan. 8 at SAS; Jan. 9 at NO; Jan. 11 vs. PHO): This is one occasion where the fact that the Clippers are terrible right now actually improves Gordon's value. With Zach Randolph and Baron Davis both nursing injuries that could keep them out of games this week of which L.A. plays four, the Clippers will have to score somehow. Enter the rookie from Indiana who is averaging 21.8 points per game over his last five. He hits threes, has solid percentages, gets a lot of steals and can flat out score. Plus, he's going to be playing about 40 minutes per night for the foreseeable future. Ownership: 70 percent Starting: 39 percent
Kevin Martin, Sacramento (Jan. 5 at NJ; Jan. 6 at CHI; Jan. 9 vs. MIA; Jan. 11 vs. DAL): This is more for the benefit of those who haven't been paying attention. After missing 12 straight games, playing in two and then missing 10 more from early November through late December with an ankle injury, Martin has now been back for three games, all coming off the bench. We suggested waiting to see how the injury prone guard would fare before starting him. Wait no longer. Martin scored 20 points in consecutive games and then erupted for 45 with a career-high seven threes in his last outing. With four games this week for the Kings, we don't expect Martin's scoring to stop and he'll likely be starting again. Ownership: 93 percent Starting: 60 percent
Sleeper Alert: Von Wafer, Houston (Jan. 6 at PHI; Jan. 7 at BOS; Jan. 9 at OKC; Jan. 10 vs. NYK): The Rockets play four times in Week 11 and they come against some pretty poor defensive teams. Boston on the road is tough but the Knicks and Thunder are jokes and the Rockets should put up big points. They are also hurting as Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady both figure to miss time next week. That leaves room for someone to step up and Wafer is that guy. He played 12 minutes and scored 18 points Friday against Toronto and was rewarded with 40 minutes against Atlanta the next night and didn't disappoint with 17 points. He's shooting well and is deadly from long range and should definitely be added in deeper leagues at least for this week. Ownership: 1 percent Starting: 0 percent
Sit 'Em
Brandon Roy, Portland (Jan. 7 vs. DET; Jan. 10 vs. GS): Portland plays just twice in Week 11 and Roy figures to see even less time than that. He's suffering from a strained right hamstring that has kept him out of the last two games for Portland and is now not expected to return until Monday of Week 12. There is always the chance one of the best Fantasy guards in the NBA can return early, but the risk is far too high for the potential reward. Ownership: 96 percent Starting: 51 percent
Mo Williams, Cleveland (Jan. 7 vs. CHA; Jan. 9 vs. BOS): The Cavaliers play twice in Week 11 and with one of the games coming against the second best defensive team in the NBA in Boston, most of the Cavs -- save LeBron James -- look like options to sit over the next scoring period. If that isn't enough for you to keep Williams on your bench, he's also struggling with his shot lately and is just 8-for-30 over his last three games for 27 percent. Plus, his assists have been down of late, too. The cards just aren't right for Williams to be worth starting in Week 11. Ownership: 97 percent Starting: 54 percent
Bust Alert: Baron Davis, L.A. Clippers ( Jan. 6 at DAL; Jan. 8 at SAS; Jan. 9 at NO; Jan. 11 vs. PHO): Davis plays on a team that gets four games in Week 11 but he won't be playing four times. Davis is hurt right now and has missed his last two games with a bruised tailbone. He's questionable for Tuesday at Dallas and wasn't actually playing well before being shut down because he's been dealing with this nagging problem since November. Davis was averaging 13.9 points and shooting just 27 percent from the field over his previous eight games. He's normally worth starting every week but Week 11 is one in which B-Diddy should be staying on your bench. Ownership: 99 percent Starting: 84 percent
Forwards
Start 'Em
Boris Diaw, Charlotte (Jan. 6 vs. BOS; Jan. 7 at CLE; Jan. 9 at PHI; Jan. 10 at WAS): You can look at the Bobcats' first two games back-to-back against the best two defensive teams in the NBA and think that Diaw might not have a great week. We disagree, however. Diaw is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games and while that number might lower in Week 11, his amazing intangibles will not. He's also averaging 6.2 assists, 6.4 rebounds and over a three per game with excellent percentages for Charlotte and should continue playing at that high level as the Bobcats' go-to player. Plus, he'll finish the week strong against a poor team at Washington. Ownership: 93 percent Starting: 72 percent
Trevor Ariza, L.A. Lakers (Jan. 6 vs. NO; Jan. 7 at GS; Jan. 9 vs. IND; Jan. 11 vs. MIA): The Lakers are red hot right now, they play four times in Week 11 and Ariza has overtaken Lamar Odom as the team's top sixth man and spark plug off the bench. All that makes him a nice start over the coming week against some weak defenses. The Hornets can defend but Golden State and the Pacers are among the league's worst and that should help Ariza improve upon the 7.8 point per game he's averaging over his last five. Plus, Ariza is also rebounding well with nine in each of his last two games and 2.2 steals over that span. Ownership: 37 percent Starting: 15 percent
Sleeper Alert: Tyrus Thomas, Chicago (Jan. 6 vs. SAC; Jan. 9 vs. WAS; Jan. 10 vs. OKC): Thomas became a major sleeper for Week 11 as soon as news hit that Drew Gooden would undergo an MRI on his ankle on Monday and could miss some time over the coming days. Gooden would have been a great start with the Bulls playing three teams, all at home, who are among the worst in field goal percentage and scoring defense in the NBA. Playing 34 minutes in place of Gooden on Saturday, Thomas scored 15 points and added eight rebounds and eight blocked shots. Expecting that kind of production to continue makes you want to rush to the waiver wire and snatch him up. Ownership: 46 percent Starting: 19 percent
Sit 'Em
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland ( Jan. 7 vs. DET; Jan. 10 vs. GS): Portland may play just twice, but one of those games comes against the absolute worst defensive team in the NBA in the Warriors. Plus, with Brandon Roy likely to miss some time next week, the Blazers will need someone to step up in his absence. Aldridge is averaging almost 17 points and seven boards per game this season so he seems like the obvious choice to have a nice, albeit short, week. Right? Wrong, actually. Aldridge doesn't do well as the team's go-to offensive weapon as he sees more double teams with Roy out. Without Roy over the last two games, Aldridge has shot just 35 percent from the field and those double teams will continue over the next week. Ownership: 100 percent Starting: 65 percent
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit (Jan. 7 at POR; Jan. 9 at DEN; Jan. 10 at UTA): Detroit plays three games in Week 11 and they all come on the road against solid defensive teams. Prince is actually playing some of the best basketball of his career right now but he still isn't hitting threes of late and with Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess all possibly missing some time this week, the Pistons will need Prince to launch up some shots. That should lower his shooting percentage again this week and could cause his value to take a slight tumble. He's likely worth starting in deeper leagues but where you have other options, find the player with better matchups. Ownership: 96 percent Starting: 73 percent
Bust Alert: Jermaine O'Neal, Toronto (Jan. 5 at MIL; Jan. 7 at WAS; Jan. 9 vs. MEM; Jan. 11 vs. BOS): The Raptors play four times in Week 11 and the Bucks, Wizards and Grizzlies aren't very good defensively. Boston is, however, but more importantly, O'Neal is hurting. He's missed the last two games -- and played just eight minutes in a third -- with flu-like symptoms and a sore knee. The knee is the problem as he missed 42 games last season due to that part of his body. He was playing extremely well prior to this latest setback and we do think he'd be able to return for at least three of the team's games next week but he's just too great a risk, especially since he may take his time to heal over a few games before returning to make sure he doesn't re-injure the knee. Ownership: 97 percent Starting: 76 percent
Centers
Start 'Em
Andrea Bargnani, Toronto ( Jan. 5 at MIL; Jan. 7 at WAS; Jan. 9 vs. MEM; Jan. 11 vs. BOS): See the O'Neal analysis above? Well, flip it because O'Neal's knee injury means nothing but great things for Bargnani. In the three games that O'Neal has been limited or out for, Bargnani is getting almost 37 minutes per game and using it to the tune of 21 points, six rebound and two blocks per night. Plus, he's hitting over two threes per game over that span and he's one of the few NBA centers with that ability. Bargnani could return to the bench again as soon as O'Neal returns but since O'Neal is likely out for at least the first one or two games of Week 11, against two poor defensive teams, Bargnani is in for an excellent Fantasy week. Ownership: 59 percent Starting: 32 percent
Udonis Haslem, Miami (Jan. 5 vs. SAS; Jan. 7 at DEN; Jan 9 at SAC; Jan. 11 at LAL): Haslem, averaging 11 points and nine boards on the year, has been struggling offensively of late for the Heat. He's scoring just 10.2 points per game over his last five and that comes on the heels of a five-point effort against the Nets. His rebounding, however, is on the rise again as he's grabbing almost 11 per night over that same span. With Miami playing three teams after the Spurs ranked 15th in the NBA in defense or lower, however, Haslem will have plenty of opportunity to pick up the scoring again and his rebounding numbers make him a must-start in the coming contests. Ownership: 82 percent Starting: 49 percent
Sleeper Alert: Andray Blatche, Washington (Jan. 6 at ORL; Jan. 7 vs. TOR; Jan. 9 at CHI; Jan. 10 vs. CHA): Please overlook the 12 total points and six rebounds he put up over his last two games against Cleveland and Boston. Blatche was dealing with an ankle issue and those are the two best defensive teams in basketball. Instead, concentrate on the 15 points and nine boards he put up in the previous three games plus the fact that the Wizards play against the Raptors likely without Jermaine O'Neal and at the Bulls without Drew Gooden, who are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. The matchups are in Blatche's favor and we think he'll have a very solid go in Week 11. Ownership: 58 percent Starting: 36 percent
Sit 'Em
Anderson Varejao, Cleveland ( Jan. 7 vs. CHA; Jan. 9 vs. BOS): With Zydrunas Ilgauskas dealing with an injury and missing time, Varejao actually has three double-doubles in his last five games and scored 26 points in one of the games he failed to complete the feat. He looks like one of the hotter sleepers in the NBA right now so it is a bad time to face two of the league's best defenses in a light week. Charlotte is fifth and Boston second in scoring defense and with those facts stacked against him, it really doesn't make sense to use him in Week 11, even with Big Z still missing time. Varejao should be added to most Fantasy rosters right now, just don't use him until Week 12. Ownership: 63 percent Starting: 28 percent
Al Horford, Atlanta (Jan. 7 vs. ORL; Jan. 9 at ORL; Jan. 11 vs. PHI): For a center, there probably isn't a worse three-game matchup this season than Horford playing Orlando twice and Philly once in Week 11. That means two games banging with Dwight Howard and a third against defensive specialist Samuel Dalembert. I don't care who you are, you are going to suffer a bit playing against those bodies. Horford is averaging a respectable 11.6 points and 9.6 rebounds with 1.2 blocks over his last five contests, but those numbers should be much lower over the next week because of the competition. Almost any other three-game span and we'd say go ahead and start Horford, but playing Orlando twice is just too much. Ownership: 98 percent Starting: 71 percent
Bust Alert: Rasheed Wallace, Detroit ( Jan. 7 at POR; Jan. 9 at DEN; Jan. 10 at UTA): Wallace is dealing with a foot injury and the Pistons don't really have a timetable for his return. That said, it could come as early as Wednesday at Portland. The uncertainty makes him a very risky start for Week 11. Wallace is not exactly shooting well of late but definitely is a nice source of threes for a center. But the Pistons play just three games next week against decent defensive teams and will almost certainly miss at least one of them. His upside is there but there really is no reason to keep him active since he's a major injury risk. Ownership: 94 percent Starting: 55 percent
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