Fantasy Related...........
Bynum Brings It Back
There are just three Daily Doses left for the season after this one, and I must say the break will be welcomed. As you've probably noticed, the volume of player news has decreased a great deal, although there are still plenty of fantasy impacts being made by injuries. Everything is riding on the health of
Andrea Bargnani's heel for yours truly, but there have been no updates on his condition or status for tonight's game against the Wizards (not exactly must-see TV). Bargnani was a surprise DNP on Wednesday and many of us still haven't recovered from the loss. Here's what we know.
My last
Season Pass Live Chat of the season will be happening today at 3. Get there early, as I doubt it will last very long now that 90 percent of fantasy hoops owners have moved onto baseball.
Game News
Andrew Bynum heroically returned from a knee injury and had 16 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes after missing 32 games. I didn't expect that much out of him, but he looked pretty good. If you want to take a flier on Bynum and throw him in your lineup for the Lakers' three remaining games, go for it.
Pau Gasol was unfazed, finishing with 27 points and 19 boards, but
Lamar Odom came off the bench to score just seven points. The rest of Odom's line was pretty solid, but he's a better fantasy player when starting.
Chris Andersen had just one point and no blocks for the Nuggets, although he did manage eight rebounds in the loss.
The Kings fell to the Rockets last night, but got 16 & 10 from
Jason Thompson, giving him eight double-doubles in his last 13 games.
Spencer Hawes stayed hot with 23 points, 11 boards and a couple threes, while
Andres Nocioni and
Francisco Garcia both rewarded owners by filling the stat sheet.
Ron Artest scored 26 against his former team, while
Yao Ming,
Luis Scola and
Von Wafer all played pretty well in the easy win.
The Bulls beat the Sixers last night as
Tyrus Thomas scored a season-high 24 points, but added just four boards, zero blocks and two steals. He did hit all 14 of his free throws though.
Ben Gordon also scored 24 and
Derrick Rose added 16 points and eight assists.
Andre Iguodala flirted with a triple-double for the Sixers, while
Andre Miller,
Lou Williams and
Samuel Dalembert all played fairly well in the loss.
Injury News
Corey Maggette's post concussion syndrome has ended his season, while
Monta Ellis will have an MRI on his surgically repaired left ankle today. If he was seriously injured when he went down in a heap last Wednesday, someone in the Warriors' organization needs to be held accountable. Ellis had no business playing in more of a handful of games this season under a minutes restriction, but was instead turned loose and allowed to push the ankle harder than anyone in his shoes should have been allowed to. I'll blame Nellie, but I'm sure Robert Rowell probably had plenty to do with it too.
Jamal Crawford is doubtful with a back injury, and surprise DNP's like his are the reason I end my main league after Week 23.
Kenyon Martin's rib injury kept him out again on Thursday, but George Karl says he will play on Monday. However, Martin doesn't sound quite as positive about those prospects and he really is still a game-time decision. He probably couldn't have played in Thursday's loss to the Lakers even if it was a Game 7 and says he feels like he's being "stabbed" in the ribs.
Kevin Martin missed his fourth straight game last night with a left ankle injury and is being called a game-time decision for tonight at the Clippers. I still have no idea why Kings haven't just shut him down with a bone spur that will likely need to be surgically removed, but what do I know?
Marcus Camby is listed as a game-time decision for the Clippers due to his sprained ankle, but I am sticking to my guns that he won't play again. And if he does, I doubt he'll be effective. All indications are that
Chris Kaman will return from a two-game absence with the flu tonight, but no word on the availability of
DeAndre Jordan, who left his last game with an Achilles' injury.
Al Thornton is done for the season with a shoulder injury and
Zach Randolph remains out on suspension.
Luol Deng's season and playoffs are officially over for the Bulls, but that should not come as a surprise. He hasn't played since February with a broken tibia.
Tim Thomas also missed his second straight game last night with a family emergency.
James Posey is due back for the Hornets on Friday or Sunday from an elbow injury, although there's still no word on exactly when we'll see
Tyson Chandler (ankle) again.
Raja Bell could play in the last couple Bobcats games despite his calf injury.
Marvin Williams could return for the Hawks tonight after missing 16 games with a back injury.
Ray Allen and
Stephon Marbury were sent home with the flu on Thursday but both were at Friday's shootaround and are expected to be ready for tonight's game against the Heat.
Chris Paul and
David West could be held out of a game or two next week in order to rest for the playoffs, but they should be safe plays in back-to-back games against the Mavericks on Friday and Sunday.
Vince Carter could lose his starting job to
Chris Douglas-Roberts now that the Nets are out of the playoffs, so keep an eye on that situation going forward. I'm also worried about
Devin Harris, as there's really not much for him to play for right now.
Enjoy tonight's 13-game slate and good luck! Come on, Bargnani.
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Crawford doubtful for Friday with back injury </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Jamal Crawford - G - GS - Apr. 10</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Jamal Crawford is doubtful for Friday's game against the Rockets because of a strained lower back that he suffered during Wednesday's shootaround.
