Week 22 Fantasy Basketball Planner
Our weekly Fantasy Basketball Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we provide you with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players, injuries and rotation changes.
Atlanta Hawks
Schedule: CHI, @PHI, NJ, @CLE
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Al Horford
Toss Ups: Jamal Crawford
Bad Plays: Kirk Hinrich, Jeff Teague, Marvin Williams
Notes: Hinrich and Teague are now starting alongside each other in the backcourt. Teague has been unable to repeat the success of Saturday's game against Portland (24-3-4-3-5) and looks to have been more mirage than solution for Fantasy owners. ... Hinrich has been held below single digits in three games since the lineup change. He is a player to avoid activating despite the four-game week. ... Crawford is viable in deeper cumulative leagues this week, but mostly just as a stopgap. He is not straying far from around 12-13 points per game. Owners in category leagues can still count on him for a trey or two per game.
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Boston Celtics
Schedule: @NY, MEM, CHA, @MIN
Injury Report: Shaquille O'Neal (Achilles'/out indefinitely), Jermaine O'Neal (knee/mid-April)
Good Plays: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen
Toss Ups: Ray Allen, Nenad Krstic, Glen Davis, Jeff Green
Bad Plays: Troy Murphy, Shaquille O'Neal, Delonte West
Notes: High-volume games against New York and Minnesota should lead to more touches and increased production this week. Expect that to trickle down from the team's big four to players like Krstic, Davis and possibly even Green this week. ... Krstic has played well in Boston and has been an attractive addition off the waiver wire. His playing time has dipped below 30 minutes per game over his last three, but we love the matchups for him inside all week. ... The Celtics insist there is no timetable for Shaq. Expect to see him play in a handful of games before the playoffs just to get his minutes up. ... Murphy has been unable to replicate the 12-and-7 effort he enjoyed last Sunday. He played just 17 minutes in that game and it will be hard for him to match that production with such limited playing time. ... Green is starting to show flashes of his upside. Despite a much more limited role in Boston than what he enjoyed in Oklahoma City, he scored 18 points vs. Philadelphia on March 11 and 19 this Wednesday against Indiana. If you can live with a possible clunker or two this week against a better defensive team like Charlotte, he could see enough of a "trickle-down" effect against New York, Memphis and Minnesota to be worth taking a shot on as a low-end play this week. Count him among your options for at least this week if you haven't cut him already.
Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: IND, @BOS, NY
Injury Report: Joel Przybilla (knee/late March)
Good Plays: Stephen Jackson
Toss Ups: D.J. Augustin, Boris Diaw, Gerald Henderson
Bad Plays: Tyrus Thomas, Kwame Brown, Shaun Livingston
Notes: Charlotte heads into the weekend just a half game behind Indiana for the eighth seed in the East. Expect players to put aside whatever minor ailments they might have for at least another week. ... For the most part, Jackson has looked solid since returning from a hamstring injury. However, he shot just 2 of 14 from the field on Wednesday night in Utah after getting poked in the eye early. He also dealt with a sore thigh this week and is clearly playing through a lot of aches and pains. Monitor him over the weekend, but he should be a good play in Week 22 with very favorable matchups against the Pacers and Knicks. ... The Pacers allow 100.8 points per game. Memphis allows 98.4 points per game. The Knicks allow 106.0 points (second most in the NBA). Expect a high-volume, high-scoring week for the Bobcats, which should benefit the likes of Augustin, Diaw and Henderson this week.
Chicago Bulls
Schedule: SAC, @ATL, MEM, @MIL
Injury Report: Joakim Noah (illness/day-to-day), Carlos Boozer (ankle/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah
Toss Ups: Carlos Boozer
Bad Plays: Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, Kurt Thomas, Ronnie Brewer
Notes: Boozer was held out of his fourth straight game on Thursday night, but is expected back "any day" now. He will likely get back to action over the weekend. As long as he can get through a game in good shape, he should be a solid play again. It might be more alarming that he has averaged just 12.7 points over his last seven appearances, but start him in any format with a four-game slate. ... Boozer's pending return puts Gibson out of the picture for Week 22 in Fantasy, barring a setback. ... Thomas has enjoyed a boost in minutes, and by that, boards and blocks while Boozer has been out. With Boozer back in the mix, however, those numbers should all drop.
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| Player | Start % | |
| 1. | Jose Calderon, G, Raptors | 69 |
| 2. | DeMar DeRozan, G, Raptors | 57 |
| 3. | Nenad Krstic, C, Celtics | 26 |
| 4. | JaVale McGee, C, Wizards | 40 |
| 5. | Samardo Samuels, F, Cavaliers | 25 |
| 6. | Darren Collison, G, Pacers | 61 |
| 7. | Landry Fields, F, Knicks | 58 |
| 8. | Toney Douglas, G, Knicks | 19 |
| 9. | Shawn Marion, F, Mavericks | 58 |
| 10. | Hedo Turkoglu, F, Magic | 46 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: ORL, NJ, DET, ATL
Injury Report: Anderson Varejao (ankle/out for the season), Antawn Jamison (pinkie/out for the season)
Good Plays: J.J. Hickson
Toss Ups: Baron Davis, Ramon Sessions, Samardo Samuels
Bad Plays: Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker, Christian Eyenga
Notes: Davis is expected to rejoin the Cavaliers by the weekend after leaving the team for a personal matter. He should be a safe and strong play with a four-game slate. He averaged 18-6-4 over his first three games as a Cavalier before having to leave the team following the loss of his grandmother. ... Expect the boost Sessions and Gibson have enjoyed in Davis' absence to fade. However, Sessions can still scrape together enough production to be a viable low-end play. He has averaged 11-5-4 in his last five games. ... Samuels has proven steady, averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last five games and 12.4 points and 6.3 rebounds over his last 10.
Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: MIN, @UTA, @PHO
Injury Report: Brendan Haywood (back/day-to-day), Peja Stojakovic (neck/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry
Toss Ups: Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, Roddy Beaubois
Bad Plays: Corey Brewer, Jose Juan Barea
Notes: Chandler's minutes have been up in the past couple of games with Haywood sidelined. Against teams like Minnesota and Phoenix this week, more shots going up will mean more chances for boards and a good shot at double-digit scoring. ... High-volume matchups against the Timberwolves and Suns should allow Marion to continue to put up solid scoring numbers, but his rebounding should also see a boost. He is just about a must-start in average-based play this week. ... Beaubois is a nice sleeper option for deeper leagues, especially where a stopgap measure may be needed off the waiver wire. He managed 16-4-2 vs. Portland and 18-4-2 with four steals vs. Golden State this week. Monitor him over the weekend.
Denver Nuggets
Schedule: TOR, SA, WAS
Injury Report: Danilo Gallinari (toe/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Nene
Toss Ups: Ty Lawson, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, J.R. Smith, Arron Afflalo, Kenyon Martin
Bad Plays: Al Harrington, Chris Andersen, Timofey Mozgov
Notes: Both Lawson and Felton are averaging 33 minutes per game over their last five. Both have been able to maintain viability in Fantasy leagues, but it has been Lawson who has really begun to take off. Entering the weekend, Lawson managed double-digit assist totals in four straight games with three 15-plus scoring performances in his last four games and 13 steals over his last four games. He seems to be in line for a strong finish. ... Gallinari is hoping to return on Friday night from a three-week absence due to a toe injury. He will make for a somewhat risky play given the long layoff, but matchups against Toronto and Washington due bode well for a quick recovery. ... Gallo's return as well as the return of Afflalo from injury could take a chunk out of the recent swell in production of both Smith and Chandler, but high-volume matchups should alleviate the potential problem. ... Afflalo scored 15 points in his return on Wednesday night and can be trusted as a decent low-end play this week in any format, though he is more appealing in average-based leagues. ... Martin is averaging 10-6-4 over his last five games. Use him in deeper average-based leagues this week, but you should be able to find more productive forward options in cumulative play. .... The Nuggets have proven to have a very well-balanced rotation since the Carmelo Anthony trade and have perhaps the deepest roster of viable Fantasy options.
Detroit Pistons
Schedule: MIA, @CLE, IND
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Toss Ups: Greg Monroe, Rodney Stuckey, Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Prince
Bad Plays: Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, Ben Wallace, Will Bynum, Chris Wilcox
Notes: Hamilton is now starting at shooting guard alongside McGrady and ahead of Stuckey. Considering coach John Kuester's continued rotation tweaks, it is impossible to tell how long this will last. ... Hamilton has finally begun to reward the patience of his Fantasy owners, averaging 19.8 points over his last four games. However, he is expected to be away from the team over the weekend due to the loss of his grandfather. Monitor this situation over the weekend as Hamilton is clearly dealing with issues more significant than basketball. ... Despite Stuckey's upside, Fantasy owners are advised to stay far, far away as Kuester continues to toy with his rotation unless Hamilton is ruled out for an extended amount of time. He attempted only one shot on Wednesday against Toronto, focusing almost exclusively on distributing the ball. It led to 14 assists. Track this development in category leagues, as it could be a hint of what is to come. ... Gordon is averaging just 19.6 minutes over his last five games. He would see a boost if Hamilton is out for any extended amount of time, but right now seems like a player to avoid for Week 22. ... Expect Monroe to flourish inside against the Heat and Cavaliers, two teams that are overmatched in the paint by just about every NBA team. ... Don't look now, but Prince is hot again. As hard as it is to trust anybody who plays for Kuester, it is hard to pass up on the 17-4-3 line he has averaged over his last five.
Golden State Warriors
Schedule: @SA, @HOU, TOR, WAS
Injury Report: Andris Biedrins (ankle/late March)
Good Plays: Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, David Lee, Dorell Wright
Toss Ups: None.
Bad Plays: Acie Law, Andris Biedrins, Ekpe Udoh, Reggie Williams
Notes: The Warriors should be in for high-scoring affairs, playing against three teams that allow over 100 points per game and like to speed up the tempo as much as they do. ... Law and Williams could chip in a double-digit game or two this week thanks to the high-volume matchups, but activating them should be avoided outside of desperate situations. ... Biedrins and Udoh have given the Warriors -- and Fantasy owners -- virtually nothing up front. With Biedrins out for about a week due to a high-ankle sprain, Udoh could see a boost in playing time. Expecting a significant boost in Fantasy appeal would be a mistake, however.
Houston Rockets
Schedule: GS, @MIA
Injury Report: Luis Scola (knee/day-to-day), Terrence Williams (abdominal/day-to-day), Yao Ming (ankle/out for the season)
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Toss Ups: Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola, Chase Budinger, Chuck Hayes
Bad Plays: Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Goran Dragic, Jordan Hill
Notes: Scola returned to practice on Thursday after missing four straight games with lingering knee soreness. He played 311 consecutive games before this injury. Expect him to be back soon. ... The Rockets are the only team in the NBA to play just two games in Week 22. Consider alternatives for Martin and Lowry -- normally solid plays -- in cumulative formats. ... In average-based play, Hayes makes for a solid start thanks to very favorable inside matchups in both games. ... Budinger makes for a quality play in average-based play as well. He is averaging 15-4-3 over his last five and should benefit from a high-volume matchup against Golden State.
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| Player | % Change | |
| 1. | Nenad Krstic, C, Celtics | 24 |
| 2. | Jordan Crawford, G, Wizards | 20 |
| 3. | Tyler Hansbrough, F, Pacers | 18 |
| 4. | Jeff Teague, G, Hawks | 17 |
| 5. | Reggie Evans, F, Raptors | 11 |
| 6. | James Harden, G, Thunder | 10 |
| 7. | C.J. Miles, F, Jazz | 10 |
| 8. | Jodie Meeks, G, 76ers | 10 |
| 9. | Marcus Thornton, G, Kings | 8 |
| 10. | Ty Lawson, G, Nuggets | 7 |
Indiana Pacers
Schedule: @NJ, @CHA, SAC, @DET
Injury Report: Mike Dunleavy (thumb/mid-April)
Good Plays: Danny Granger, Tyler Hansbrough
Toss Ups: Roy Hibbert, Darren Collison
Bad Plays: Josh McRoberts, Paul George, Brandon Rush
Notes: Granger was under the weather this week, but was able to play on, putting up solid numbers against Boston and New York. He remains a great play in any format. ... After feeding off a series of favorable high-volume matchups, Hansbrough had a streak of five consecutive games with 20 points snapped on Wednesday against Boston. He managed 11 rebounds, however, and has proven he can be trusted as a positive play regardless of matchup. Keep him active. He faces three high-volume matchups again in Week 22, but he will not be catching anybody by surprise any longer. ... It seems that most of Hansbrough's shot attempts are coming out of Hibbert's pocket. He has averaged just 7.6 shot attempts over his last five games and has managed just 7.4 points in that span. He remains a good source for boards and a great source of blocks, but is not a must-start by any means. The higher volume matchups should help get his numbers up a bit this week. ... The matchups play in favor of Collison this week and he is currently on a decent run with seven or more assists in four straight games and 15.8 points per game during that span.
L.A. Clippers
Schedule: WAS, @LAL, TOR
Injury Report: Eric Gordon (wrist/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Blake Griffin
Toss Ups: Mo Williams, Eric Gordon, Randy Foye, Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan
Bad Plays: Eric Bledsoe, Ryan Gomes, Al-Farouq Aminu
Notes: Gordon could return to action on Saturday after re-aggravating a wrist injury on March 5 and missing the following six games. We have already seen Gordon's timetable change dramatically (both for the good and bad) more than once since he originally hurt the wrist and Fantasy owners should continue to monitor his situation all the way through lineup deadlines on Monday. ... Gordon's return figures to cut into Foye's production and will completely remove Bledsoe from the picture. ... Williams is averaging a 17-5-3 stat line over his last five games and should flourish against weaker defensive opponents vs. Washington and Toronto. ... Despite having his playing time restricted to about 25 minutes per game, Kaman is averaging a viable 13.8 points per game. His rebounding has suffered, however. He has managed just five boards per game over that same span. ... Jordan is playing about 30 minutes per game and has been more productive than Kaman of late, averaging 12.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and a block over his last five games. He is a viable No. 2 center option in any format for Week 22.
L.A. Lakers
Schedule: PHO, LAC, NO
Injury Report: Kobe Bryant (ankle/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
Toss Ups: Lamar Odom
Bad Plays: Ron Artest, Shannon Brown, Derek Fisher
Notes: Kobe rested his sore ankle at practice on Wednesday, but has been able to play on despite twisting his ankle on an awkward landing this past Sunday in Dallas. We have seen him play through much worse and expect him to be a safe play in Week 22. He was held below 20 points against Dallas and Orlando, shooting just 33 percent from the field over those two games, but good luck trying to find somebody you would rather start at this critical point of the Fantasy season. ... Bynum is averaging 13.0 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over his last five contests. ... Odom's numbers have taken a hit since Bynum has settled in, but Fantasy owners can still consider him a viable play in many leagues. He has averaged 12-3-4 over his last five games and will benefit from two high-volume matchups in Week 22 vs. Phoenix and the L.A. Clippers.
Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: UTA, @BOS, @CHI, SA
Injury Report: Marc Gasol (ankle/day-to-day), Rudy Gay (shoulder/early April)
Good Plays: Zach Randolph, Mike Conley
Toss Ups: Marc Gasol, Tony Allen
Bad Plays: O.J. Mayo, Shane Battier, Rudy Gay, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young
Notes: Gasol tweaked an ankle on Monday against the Clippers but was in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against New York. He has been reliable for about 13-15 points, seven boards and over a block per game of late. ... On Tuesday, it was revealed that Gay could need an additional two weeks of recovery. No official timetable has been revealed, but an MRI revealed that his shoulder has not healed enough yet to clear him for basketball activities. He is highly unlikely to play in Week 22. ... In Gay's absence, nobody has stepped up on a consistent basis. Allen has been the most successful, but has tailed off over the course of the last week as the Grizzlies seek to split the void among several players.
Miami Heat
Schedule: @DET, PHI, HOU
Injury Report: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (foot/out indefinitely), Udonis Haslem (foot/early April)
Good Plays: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Toss Ups: Mike Bibby
Bad Plays: Mike Miller, Eddie House, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Erick Dampier
Notes: Ilgauskas continues to sit as the result of an infection caused by stepping on a nail at his home. In his absence, little has changed. Dampier is starting at center and has stepped into Big Z's role of doing a lot of nothing. ... Bibby seems to be the only Heat player not named James, Wade or Bosh to be capable of hitting double digits. He will not stray far from 10 points, but can be a cheap source for treys in deeper category leagues. He has averaged 2.6 3-pointers made over his last five games.
Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: SAC, @NY, CHI
Injury Report: Andrew Bogut (head/day-to-day), Ersan Ilyasova (head/out indefinitely), Michael Redd (knee/could return March 23), Drew Gooden (foot/could return March 23)
Good Plays: Brandon Jennings
Toss Ups: Andrew Bogut, John Salmons
Bad Plays: Carlos Delfino, Corey Maggette, Ersan Ilyasova, Drew Gooden, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Larry Sanders, Jon Brockman
Notes: Bogut once again missed a game on Wednesday, but this time it had nothing to do with his lingering elbow issue or oblique. He sat out due to a migraine headache. We have seen players play through migraines before and have also seen players miss extended time. Monitor this situation daily. ... In Bogut's absence, the Bucks used a combination of Sanders and Brockman to fill in on Wednesday with little production from either player. ... Redd could make his season debut on Wednesday against Sacramento. He has been out for 14 months, however, and the Bucks are hanging on to playoff hopes for at least another week. Use this week as a measuring stick, but do not think about activating the former Fantasy stud in any format. ... Salmons should benefit from high-volume matchups against the Kings and Knicks this week, making him a viable play in most formats. ... Delfino and Maggette have been far too spotty to trust in Fantasy of late.
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| Team | Schedule | |
| 1. | Raptors | @DEN, @PHO, @GS, @LAC |
| 2. | Warriors | @SA, @HOU, TOR, WAS |
| 3. | Pacers | @NJ, CHA, SAC, @DET |
| 4. | Wizards | @POR, @LAC, @DEN, @GS |
| 5. | Mavericks | MIN, @UTA, @PHO |
Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: @DAL, @OKC, BOS
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley
Toss Ups: Luke Ridnour, Darko Milicic
Bad Plays: Wesley Johnson, Jonny Flynn, Anthony Randolph, Wayne Ellington
Notes: Ridnour is averaging 11-4-3 over his last five games. Nothing spectacular, but he can get you by in a pinch. He is also offering over a steal and a 3-pointer made per contest. ... Milicic is playing only about 20-25 minutes per game. Count on him in category leagues for a couple of blocks per game, but he is not going to give you much more than 7-8 points or 6-7 rebounds per game.
New Jersey Nets
Schedule: IND, @CLE, @ORL, @ATL
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries
Toss Ups: Anthony Morrow
Bad Plays: Travis Outlaw, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar
Notes: Williams continues to deal with lingering pain in his wrist, but does not appear to be in danger of being shut down at all. After missing two games to be with his wife for the birth of the couple's fourth child, he shot just 4 of 11 from the field on Monday against Boston. Some of that was good defense, but some of that may have to do with the wrist as well. He managed a 16-9-6 stat line in that game, however, so we advise keeping him active outside of situations where you simply can't afford a hit to field-goal percentage. ... Humphries has had at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in five of his last six games. ... Farmar completely disappeared in Williams' return this week, going scoreless with just three assists and three rebounds. He has shown significant potential when given the chance to start, but has been a poor Fantasy option as a reserve. ... Good luck trying to figure out when Morrow will put up a good line and he won't, but over the course of a four-game week he is likely to give you at least one offensive outburst if he continues to follow the pattern he has most of the year.
New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: @UTA, @PHO, @LAL
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Chris Paul, David West
Toss Ups: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Carl Landry
Bad Plays: Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Willie Green
Notes: Paul has turned on the jets for the stretch run. In three games since returning from a concussion, he has averaged 28.7 points and 11.3 assists. ... Jack, who enjoyed a boost while Paul sat out, has been held scoreless in two of three games since Paul's return. ... Ariza has been able to play solid minutes since returning from a groin strain, but has averaged just 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists over four games. ... Landry sparked some interest with back-to-back solid outings against the Mavericks and Kings last week, but has totaled just 13 points and two rebounds in two games this week. Avoid him. ... Okafor had not looked like himself since returning from a strained oblique until Wednesday night against Phoenix. He was very active and managed 16-and-11 with a block, looking more like the Okafor Fantasy owners have come to expect. Track his progress over the weekend, but he looks to be on the verge of being a great play again.
New York Knicks
Schedule: BOS, ORL, MIL, @CHA
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups
Toss Ups: Landry Fields
Bad Plays: Toney Douglas, Shawne Williams, Ronny Turiaf, Jared Jeffries
Notes: The Knicks could be in for at least a slight drop in production this week, facing four teams that allow below 97 points per game. Three of the four opponents allow fewer than 95 points per game. Expect a slower tempo than usual. ... Fields has scored 16 or more in three of his last four games and looks to be a solid sleeper option this week even with the poor matchups, though we would recommend him more in cumulative formats than average-based play. The same goes for Douglas, who has averaged 15-6-3 over his last five and managed 17-4-3 on Tuesday in Indiana despite Billups being back from his thigh injury. ... Douglas scored just three points in Billups' return on Sunday, but that had to do with him missing 11 of 12 shots taken. He bounced back on Tuesday night and looks like he should remain productive.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: UTA, MIN, POR
Injury Report: Nate Robinson (knee/early-April)
Good Plays: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant
Toss Ups: Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Kendrick Perkins
Bad Plays: Nazr Mohammed, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Nate Robinson
Notes: Perkins has not been able to take on a significant role yet with the Thunder, coming off a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly three weeks. He managed nine boards in 20 minutes in his Oklahoma City debut on Monday, however, and will likely see his minutes increase in the coming games. We recommend letting him prove healthy before activating him. ... Ibaka has averaged 4.4 blocks over his last five games to go with 9.2 rebounds. If you can deal with his spotty offense, he's more than worthy of a play -- especially in category play. Just beware of Perkins eating into his rebound numbers as he gets healthier. ... Harden is averaging 17-3-3 over his last 10 games, enjoying an increased offensive workload with Jeff Green now in Boston. Activate him in any format, as these numbers should be there for him down the stretch.
Orlando Magic
Schedule: @CLE, @NY, NJ
Injury Report: J.J. Redick (abdomen/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Dwight Howard
Toss Ups: Jason Richardson, Jameer Nelson, Ryan Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu
Bad Plays: Gilbert Arenas, Brandon Bass, J.J. Redick
Notes: Richardson is averaging 16-5-2 over his last five games and is also offering over a steal per game. ... Nelson is averaging 17-5-4 over his last five games. ... Anderson is offering solid rebounding totals along with a 3-pointer per game for owners in category leagues. His scoring has been spotty, but the matchups do favor a potential increase in production. ... Turkoglu appears to be healthy again and looks more like the player he was when he first re-joined the Magic earlier this season before injuries (namely a back issue) began to slow him down. He has averaged a '08-Turkoglu-like 16-4-3-1-1 line over his last five games. ... Expect an increase in offensive volume this week for the Magic against three weak defensive opponents.
Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: ATL, @MIA, SAC
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday
Toss Ups: Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Spencer Hawes
Bad Plays: Evan Turner, Andres Nocioni, Jodie Meeks
Notes: Young has hit a wall after surging since just around the All-Star break. He has been held below 10 points in three of his last five games, averaging just 21.0 minutes per game over that span. Avoid him. ... Williams is avraging 16.4 points over his last five games, but the matchups do not bode well for high-scoring games this week. ... Fantasy owners in a pinch who need an emergency replacement at center could look to Hawes. He is anything but consistent but has been rebounding well of late, blocking shots and could get into double-digits in scoring against a Miami team that is weak inside or in a game against Sacramento that figures to get into the triple digits.
Phoenix Suns
Schedule: @LAL, TOR, NO, DAL
Injury Report: Channing Frye (shoulder/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Marcin Gortat
Toss Ups: Steve Nash, Aaron Brooks, Channing Frye, Vince Carter, Grant Hill
Bad Plays: Hakim Warrick, Jared Dudley, Robin Lopez
Notes: Nash may have returned on Wednesday against the Hornets, but he still does not seem right. His recent flare-up of a rare pelvic injury has restricted him in March. He has averaged just 8.5 points in six games this month, but should remain a high-end source for dimes as long as he is healthy enough to play. Monitor his progress over the weekend. Brooks should only be a handcuff measure. ... Frye has been hinting at an early return that could come as soon as Friday, but he still could miss another couple of games as he continues to recover from a dislocated shoulder. He has ramped up activities in practice this week and does seem like a return candidate for Week 22, but Fantasy owners will have to monitor his progress over the weekend. His pending return makes Dudley and Warrick players to avoid. ... Carter has become more active offensively with Nash unable to contribute in that regard. He has averaged 18.2 points over his last five games and makes for a decent play again in most formats. Beware three of four low-volume opponents. ... Count on Hill for about 12-3-3-0-1 in Week 22.
Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule:
Injury Report: Joel Przybilla (knee/late March)
Good Plays: LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller
Toss Ups: Gerald Wallace, Wesley Matthews, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum
Bad Plays: Marcus Camby, Rudy Fernandez
Notes: Wallace is seeing plenty of playing time in Portland, but his touches are down compared to what he enjoyed with Charlotte. He is averaging 9.7 shots per game with the Blazers after averaging 12.1 per game with the Bobcats. Predictably, his scoring is down 4.6 points per game. The numbers everywhere else have remained significant, however, allowing him to remain a viable play if you can afford the scoring drop. ... Trust Camby for about 8-10 boards and 1-2 blocks per game, but virtually nothing else. He has done some harm in the field-goal percentage department despite taking only 20 shots over his last five games, going 3 for 20 (15.0 percent) from the field. ...Roy has been Roy in spurts, scoring well in one or two games then being held to single digits for another game or two. Expect similar production the rest of the way due to his achy knees and playing time, as the Blazers will try their best to cap it at 25 minutes per game. ... The re-introduction of Roy into the rotation initially caused a dip in Matthews' production, but he seems to be back on track. He has scored 18 or more in three straight games. ... Batum has been held below 10 points in three of his last five games.
Sacramento Kings
Schedule: @CHI, @MIL, @IND, @PHI
Injury Report: Tyreke Evans (foot/day-to-day), Jason Thompson (ankle/day-to-day)
Good Plays: DeMarcus Cousins
Toss Ups: Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, Beno Udrih, Samuel Dalembert
Bad Plays: Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Omri Casspi
Notes: Evans has been cleared to practice and has already been able to do some shooting this week. He has missed 15 games, so he will likely need another practice or two. That could put him out until at least Monday's game in Chicago. The Kings play a back-to-back set Sunday and Monday and are unlikely to push him. The plan is to play him off the bench initially, which will make him a risky Fantasy play. It will also make Thornton a very risky play as well. ... Thornton has thrived with Evans out, even scoring 42 points this week against Golden State. Kings coach Paul Westphal said this past week that he could see both Evans and Thornton being productive together. However, we've heard that kind of talk from coaches plenty of times before and it rarely works out that way. Proceed with caution. ... If the Kings will indeed attempt to get the most out of an Evans/Thornton combo, Udrih's production stands to suffer. ... Dalembert remains a steady No. 2 center option, especially with the four-game slate.
| | ||
| Team | Schedule | |
| 1. | Rockets | GS, @MIA |
| 2. | 76ers | ATL, @MIA, SAC |
| 3. | Knicks | BOS, ORL, MIL, CHA |
| 4. | Timberwolves | @DAL, @OKC, BOS |
| 5. | Bulls | SAC, @ATL, MEM, @MIL |
San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: GS, @DEN, @POR, @MEM
Injury Report: No significant injury.
Good Plays: Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
Toss Ups: DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, George Hill
Bad Plays: Matt Bonner, Gary Neal, Antonio McDyess
Notes: The Spurs should be in for three high-scoring games in a four-game week as they face poor defensive opponents in the Warriors, Nuggets and Grizzlies. ... Blair could be a sleeper in deep formats this week, matching up well inside with the Warriors and Grizzlies. ... Trust Hill and Jefferson as only last-ditch stopgap measures.
Toronto Raptors
Schedule: @DEN, @PHO, @GS, @LAC
Injury Report: Amir Johnson (ankle/day-to-day), Linas Kleiza (knee/out for the season)
Good Plays: Andrea Bargnani
Toss Ups: Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Reggie Evans, Leandro Barbosa
Bad Plays: Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson, Sonny Weems
Notes: The Raptors have the most favorable matchups of the week, facing four high-volume opponents. The Nuggets, Suns and Warriors each allow over 103 points per game. ... Consider Calderon a big sleeper this week with up-tempo games leading to more chances for dimes. He has averaged 12-7-2 over his last five games and should see an increase in each category. ... DeRozan should be able to light up the scoreboard against every single one of his Week 22 opponents. He is averaging around 16 shots per game over the last two weeks and could do a lot of damage with an increase in shot volume this week. He won't be of much help outside of scoring, but could see modest increases across the board. On a smaller scale, Barbosa should enjoy a similar boost. ... Johnson did not travel on Wednesday and has missed the team's last three games. He has been able to practice, but there appears to be no real rush to bring him back. That might have to do with the solid play of Davis and Evans in his absence. ... Evans is a one-category player, but he offers premium rebounding. He has averaged 13.0 boards per game and has not skipped a beat despite missing time due to a fractured foot. ... Be a little tentative to start Davis, who has had a couple of poor games since his recent string of solid outings. The potential return of Johnson at any point also caps his appeal.
Utah Jazz
Schedule: @MEM, @OKC, NO, DAL
Injury Report: Andrei Kirilenko (back/day-to-day), Paul Millsap (knee/day-to-day), Mehmet Okur (back/out for the season)
Good Plays: Al Jefferson, Devin Harris
Toss Ups: Andrei Kirilenko, C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap
Bad Plays: Derrick Favors, Raja Bell
Notes: Kirilenko is dealing with lingering back issues but has been able to play around 30 minutes per night. His shot has suffered, but he has averaged a solid 13-4-4-1-2 over his last five. ... Miles is probably no longer a sleeper after dropping 40 on the Timberwolves on Wednesday night. However, be aware that the potential return of Millsap, as well as Kirlenko being healthy enough to play 30 minutes, stands to be a threat to his value. ... Millsap should be monitored closely over the weekend, but he does appear to be nearing a return.
Washington Wizards
Schedule: @POR, @LAC, @DEN, @GS
Injury Report: Andray Blatche (shoulder/day-to-day), Nick Young (knee/day-to-day), Josh Howard (knee/day-to-day), Rashard Lewis (knee/out indefinitely)
Good Plays: John Wall
Toss Ups: Nick Young, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee, Jordan Crawford, Trevor Booker
Bad Plays: Rashard Lewis, Josh Howard
Notes: The Wizards will play three teams that allow over 103 points per game in Week 22. ... Young is dealing with lingering knee soreness, but if he gets cleared to play over the weekend he'd make a terrific scoring option against these opponents. He is averaging around 16 shots per game over his last 10 appearances. ... Blatche had to undergo a second MRI on his injured shoulder. He is complaining of limited mobility and though the MRIs have been inconclusive, he seems to be a long shot to play within the next few games. Have healthy alternatives prepared. ... In Blatche's absence, expect McGee to continue to thrive, especially with the matchups ahead of him this week. ... Booker and Crawford make for decent sleepers in deep formats this week, but should only be picked up as one-off stopgap measures off the waiver wire in a pinch.
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