March 6, 2010

Week 20 Fantasy Basketball Planner

By Sergio Gonzalez | Fantasy Writer
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Week 20 (March 8-14)

Teams playing four games: Boston, Charlotte, L.A. Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Indiana, Golden State, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City
Teams playing two games: Houston, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics (@MIL, MEM, IND, @CLE): Nate Robinson has settled into the Boston rotation, carving out a useful niche despite playing only around 20 minutes per game. He scored 13 or more points in three straight games going into the weekend. Kendrick Perkins, who was sick earlier in Week 19, was able to get back on the floor. However, he has not been productive since January. He has scored in double figures just four times since and is not a player we recommend starting right now despite his strong first half.
New Jersey Nets (@MEM, @DAL, @OKC, @HOU): Courtney Lee (ankle) has missed two games and was expected to miss a third Friday night. He thinks he can play soon, but the team does not seem as optimistic. Keep a close eye on his progress this weekend as he was on quite a roll prior to getting hurt. He scored a combined 49 points in the two games prior to his injury. Yi Jianlian has gotten on a roll himself, recording a pair of double-doubles in Week 19 prior to the weekend. He's a solid sleeper option in a four-game week. Chris Douglas-Roberts has done little with added playing time.
New York Knicks (ATL, @SA, @MEM, @DAL): The Knicks made another change in the back court, replacing Sergio Rodriguez (who replaced Chris Duhon just last week) with Bill Walker. Walker has responded well to the added playing time, scoring 20-plus points against the Pistons and Cavaliers, getting 35 minutes and 13-14 field goal attempts in each game. He won't help in assists because he doesn't handle the ball as much as a true point guard, but he can be helpful in scoring, steals and threes and won't hurt your turnover margin. Tracy McGrady continues to be up-and-down, but is a worthy start.
Philadelphia 76ers (IND, CHA, CLE, @MIA): Elton Brand (Achilles') is close to a return after missing two games in Week 19 heading into the weekend, but Fantasy owners will have to monitor his status. If his absence lingers, Samuel Dalembert's current hot streak could continue into Week 20. Thaddeus Young should also benefit. He posted three straight double-doubles entering the weekend. Lou Williams is back to his early-season form with Allen Iverson gone and deserves to be starting in all formats.
Toronto Raptors (@LAL, @SAC, @GS, @POR): Chris Bosh was set to return from an ankle injury on Friday, but a stomach virus set him back. Monitor his progress over the weekend, but he should be back before Tuesday's game at the Lakers. Jose Calderon suffered a cut on his elbow, but should be back this weekend. He has not been very productive in his bench role, but matchups against Sacramento and Golden State this week could make him a sleeper for a better week.

Central Division

Chicago Bulls (UTA, @ORL, @MIA): Joakim Noah (foot) will miss a few weeks, opening up minutes and production for Brad Miller, who becomes a solid sleeper at center. Kirk Hinrich (ankle) is considered day-to-day entering the weekend. Monitor his progress over the weekend, but tough matchups all week against teams that allow under 100 points per game would make him unappealing if he's not 100 percent.
Cleveland Cavaliers (SA, @PHI, BOS): With Shaquille O'Neal (finger) out for the remainder of the regular season, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao are splitting the minutes at center pretty evenly. Hickson has been the more productive Fantasy option early on, but both players have gained some Fantasy appeal. Hickson is on the verge of gaining center eligibility in leagues that allow for multiple positions with three more starts at the position. If he stays on pace, he should have it after Monday's game against San Antonio.
Detroit Pistons (UTA, WAS, @ATL): Ben Wallace (knee) is day-to-day after being ruled out for Friday night's game. Monitor his status over the weekend. When healthy, he has some appeal in deeper leagues -- especially in category-based formats. Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko have stepped up their production recently and deserve a look. Ben Gordon continues to produce at a low clip and is not worth starting in Fantasy.
Indiana Pacers (PHI, @BOS, @MIL): T.J. Ford is getting 30-plus minutes per game as the starting point guard again for Indiana, but after a couple of solid games offensively last week, he has only been around 8-9 points this week. His assist totals have been nice, but he is mostly still just a waiver-wire option for now if you need a replacement.
Milwaukee Bucks (BOS, UTA, IND): Brandon Jennings continues to struggle offensively. He shot just 17 for 57 (29.8 percent) in five games leading up to the weekend. He averaged a 9-6-4 line in those games and has become just a low-end starter in Fantasy at the moment. Meanwhile, John Salmons averaged 22 points in that same span. Jerry Stackhouse has been quietly very steady, giving owners good production in three-point shooting and around 15 points per game.

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks (@NY, @WAS, DET): The Hawks will play two teams that allow over 101 points per game. The Knicks allow 104.9 points per game. Jamal Crawford makes for a good play, but Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams remain unfavorable plays.
Charlotte Bobcats (MIA, @PHI, LAC, @ORL): Nazr Mohammed (back) could return in Week 20, but is a player Fantasy owners should not trust until he can prove healthy and productive again. Boris Diaw and Tyrus Thomas have been able to co-exist nicely together in Mohammed's absence. Both make for quality plays in Week 20.
Miami Heat (@CHA, LAC, CHI, PHI): Michael Beasley averaged 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in five games entering this weekend. He is seeing only around 20-25 minutes per game and is in a funk that should make you at least consider reserving him at such a critical juncture of the Fantasy season. Udonis Haslem has picked up his pace recently, but he is not a reliable start outside of deeper leagues. In leagues where he is eligible at center, he is slightly more appealing this week. Carlos Arroyo has bounced back from his legal troubles earlier this week with a couple of solid games against the Warriors and Lakers, but is still just a stopgap measure for deep leagues.
Orlando Magic (LAC, CHI, @WAS, CHA): Jameer Nelson's strong run continued this week. He is averaging 16.2 points and 7.4 assists with 3.0 rebounds over his last five games. He's emerged as a must-start and that should remain the case the rest of the way as long as he can stay healthy. Matt Barnes is getting steady playing time, around 25 minutes per game, and is offering around 12 points and six boards with a steal and a three-pointer per game. Avoid starting Jason Williams and Mickael Pietrus.
Washington Wizards (HOU, ATL, @DET, ORL): Randy Foye is finding a comfortable middle ground between the early hot streak he enjoyed when initially replacing Gilbert Arenas and the funk he went into in February. He is averaging 14.4 points, 5.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds in his last five games. Those numbers are strikingly similar to the numbers he averaged last year as the starting point guard and Minnesota. He should be able to maintain this type of production the rest of the way.

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks (@MIN, NJ, NY): Jason Terry's broken orbital bone is likely to keep him out through Week 20, opening up room for Jose Juan Barea and Roddy Beaubois to step up. Early on, Beaubois looks like the player to own as he has the better offensive upside and can fill the scoring void off the bench. He had 22 points in 24 minutes Friday against Sacramento and will face similar teams this week.
Houston Rockets (@WAS, NJ): The Rockets play just a pair of games in Week 20. What you do with your Rockets this week depends on what format you play in. If you are in a cumulative format, you probably want to sit even Aaron Brooks, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola. However, if you are in an average-based league, very favorable matchups against the Wizards and Nets makes them great plays. Trevor Ariza (hip) is unlikely to return over the weekend, making him a lineup-day decision.
Memphis Grizzlies (NJ, @BOS, NY, DEN): The Grizzlies face three Fantasy-friendly matchups in a four-game week. The Nets, Knicks and Nuggets all allow over 101 points per game. O.J. Mayo has been slumping, but these favorable matchups could lead to his best week in a while. Mayo can be considered a decent play this week.
New Orleans Hornets (GS, @OKC, DEN, @PHO): There is a slight possibility that Chris Paul (knee) could return late in Week 20, but there remains no guarantee of that happening. Unless that happens at some point before lineups are due Monday, reserve him and hope to have him ready for Week 21. In his absence, Darren Collison will continue to put up high-end numbers. Marcus Thornton would also be in line to continue his Fantasy boost, but he enters the weekend dealing with a strained back. Monitor his situation up until lineup deadlines as well. Peja Stojakovic should be a good play for one more week.
San Antonio Spurs (@CLE, NY, @MIN, LAC): Richard Jefferson had a couple of strong performances in Week 18, peaking interest in him again entering Week 19. A couple of clunkers against the Hornets this week reminded everyone that he is a player who can't be trusted at this stage of the season. George Hill, meanwhile, is averaging 17.6 points in his last five games and is a strong play as a No. 3 guard in standard leagues.

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets (@MIN, @NO, @MEM): The Nuggets will be on a three-game road trip in Week 20 that will feature Fantasy-friendly matchups against three teams that allow over 101 points per game. The Timberwolves give up the second most points in the NBA at 106.3 per tilt. So Fantasy owners should expect high-scoring numbers all week and that should trickle down to players like J.R. Smith. Kenyon Martin (knee) is dealing with the injury bug for the first time this season after a relatively healthy first half. His play in recent games even when he has been healthy enough to play have been pedestrian. Chris Andersen has begun to play a bigger role, adding double-digit scoring to his arsenal.
Minnesota Timberwolves (DAL, DEN, SA, @SAC): Al Jefferson will be back from his two-game suspension in Week 20 and will be a must-start again in a four-game week that features a pair of Fantasy-friendly matchups against Denver and Sacramento. Jonny Flynn is a nice sleeper this week due to the favorable matchups.
Portland Trail Blazers (SAC, @GS, @SAC, TOR): The Trail Blazers have one of the most Fantasy-friendly matchup weeks of the entire season with four games against three of the five worst defensive teams in the league. The Kings, a team they will play twice, give up 105.2 points per game. The Warriors give up the most points in the league at 111.0 per game and the Raptors give up 105.3 per game. The Blazers are looking at an average of nearly 107 points per game this week. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Andre Miller are in for huge weeks. Marcus Camby (ankle) is banged up and has not settled in with his new team, making him a potential bust candidate this week. If you are in a bind, Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless make for good one-week sleepers.
Oklahoma City Thunder (NO, NJ, UTA): The Thunder have a couple of Fantasy-friendly matchups in Week 20 against the Hornets and Nets. Both teams allow over 101 points per game. James Harden makes for a nice play, especially in average-based leagues, considering his solid performances this week against the Nuggets and Clippers. Nenad Krstic also makes for an interesting sleeper in deep leagues.
Utah Jazz (@CHI, @DET, @MIL, @OKC): Mehmet Okur is rolling along nicely, finally. He is averaging 13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds over his last five games. He is even averaging 1.8 blocks and a three per game in that span. He's back to being a must-start in most formats. That has made Paul Millsap much more erratic.

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors (@NO, POR, TOR): Monta Ellis (back) and Corey Maggette (hamstring) won't be re-evaluated until after Monday's game in New Orleans and that makes them both very risky plays for Week 20. They will play two games in a best-case scenario. Only Fantasy owners in average-based play should be considering them. Those owners can gain some optimism from the fact that Maggette will have had over two weeks to recover since he last played on Feb. 19 and Ellis will have had over a week since he last played on Feb. 25. C.J. Watson and Anthony Morrow have benefited greatly from their absence, but owners should adjust expectations a tad with the possibility that Ellis and Maggette could return at some point in Week 20. With Andris Biedrins (groin) in a similar situation, Anthony Tolliver and Ronny Turiaf are in the same boat.
Los Angeles Clippers (@ORL, @MIA, @CHA, @SA): The Clippers likely will not be in for a high-scoring week with four matchups against teams that allow under 100 points per game. The Clippers will face three of the top six defensive teams in the league in Week 20. The Spurs rank ninth. With that said, Chris Kaman, Baron Davis and Eric Gordon remain must-starts. Drew Gooden and Rasual Butler have emerged as real winners following the trade deadline and could be looked upon as good plays.
Los Angeles Lakers (TOR, @PHO): The Lakers are a tricky team this week. If you are in a cumulative format, starting your fringe Lakers options (Lamar Odom and Ron Artest) is a bad idea. But if you are in a cumulative format, favorable matchups against two weak defensive teams in the Raptors and Suns plays to their advantage.
Phoenix Suns (LAL, NO): The Suns don't have favorable matchups in Week 20. They play just two games and one of those comes against a Lakers team that allows just 96.4 points per game. Jason Richardson has been on a real tear of late, but with the tough matchups this week and the possibility that Leandro Barbosa (wrist) could be returning, it's a good idea to reserve him in cumulative formats. The same goes for Grant Hill, Channing Frye and Robin Lopez.
Sacramento Kings (@POR, TOR, POR, MIN): With Jason Thompson (back) out through at least mid-March, Spencer Hawes has gotten a significant boost in playing time. He has remained very inconsistent, but has had at least nine boards in three of the first four games since the boost in playing time. He had 15 and 16 points in the first two games and is still a decent sleeper with good matchups against Toronto and Minnesota. Beno Udrih is a productive starter again, getting minutes alongside Tyreke Evans.

Do you have a Fantasy hoops question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Weekly Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. You can also follow Sergio on Twitter (@CBSGonzalez).