Fantasy Related But Good Info.....
Shut 'Em Down
This is the final
Monday Morning Injury Report version of the Daily Dose for the season, as plenty of big names have owners scratching their heads for the final two games of the season.
Deron Williams,
Kevin Martin,
Tim Duncan,
Hedo Turkoglu,
Rashard Lewis and
Devin Harris are just a few of the guys in injury headlines right now, while it's possible
Dwight Howard and
LeBron James could get a rest.
Deron Williams, Jazz - Williams suffered a strained oblique on Saturday night, and despite being listed as day-to-day, I think he's probably done for the final two games. He was in a ton of pain and these types of injuries are not that easy to quickly bounce back from.
Brevin Knight looks like the guy to own in his place, but I would like to have an update out of Utah Monday afternoon before officially declaring Deron's regular season over.
Kevin Martin, Kings - Martin is reportedly done for the season with his left ankle injury, just as we suspected. In any case, it doesn't make sense for him to play again this season and he will very likely have surgery to remove a spur from his ankle.
Josh Howard, Mavericks - Howard could very well miss Monday's game with his lingering sprained ankle, although the Mavericks have been rolling with him back in the lineup. Back-to-backs are tough for him, but fortunately there aren't any of those in the playoffs.
Tim Duncan, Spurs - Duncan sat out Sunday's game with his sore knees, which probably means he'll play tonight against the Warriors. Gregg Popovich has called Duncan a "difference maker" against the Warriors in the past, so he saved him for this one. In addition, that should mean he also plays on Wednesday, so he might be a somewhat safe start this week (for once).
Yao Ming, Rockets - Yao missed his last game with a dreaded sore right foot, but all indications are that he's fine and will play on Monday. That's all we have to go on, so I'd start him if I owned him. And on a side note, congratulations to Yao for potentially playing in 77 of 82 games this season.
Devin Harris, Nets - I'm still not sure why, but Harris is reportedly going to play tonight. I'm also not sure how much run he'll get with that sore shoulder, but I guess owners can start him if they have limited options.
LeBron James, Cavaliers - LeBron is not hurt, but it sounds like the starters could all get the day off on Wednesday. However, I'm still not sure you can sit LeBron or
Mo Williams on such a vague report.
Tyson Chandler, Hornets - It sounds like Chandler will return from his ankle injury for the regular-season finale on Wednesday in hopes of getting some work in before the playoffs, but he is going to be rusty.
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards - Maybe he'll play Monday night against Toronto. Then again maybe he won't. But it does sound like that's the only game he may play in this week.
Orlando Magic -
Rashard Lewis (knee) and
Hedo Turkoglu (ankle) are out on Monday and questionable for Wednesday, while there's a chance the Magic could decide to give
Dwight Howard a day off before the playoffs get here.
Golden State Warriors - They have just seven healthy players meaning that
Anthony Morrow,
Kelenna Azubuike,
C.J. Watson,
Anthony Randolph,
Andris Biedrins,
Ronny Turiaf, and possibly even
Rob Kurz are all worth a look right now.
Raja Bell, Bobcats - Bell was set to return from a calf injury for the last couple games when it looked like the Bobcats were still in the playoff hunt, but now that they're out, I'm guessing he's done for the season. And that makes
D.J. Augustin a great-looking fantasy play this week – especially if you need threes.
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League Freak
As most of you know I play in Rick Kamla's (NBA TV) personal league, aka League Freak, and I finished in a tie for first place with a 5-3 win in our final game that ended Sunday night. In one of the most complex tie-breaking scenarios I've ever seen, I ended up winning it all because of a 2-1 season head-to-head record against Paul Allen, voice of the Minnesota Vikings. This is my second LF title in three years, and I'd like to thank
Chris Paul and
Andrea Bargnani, among others, for helping me win the championship. And congrats to PA on an intense battle over the final eight weeks of the season. Here's the injury list.
Monday Morning Injury Report
Zaza Pachulia – back – Day-to-day.
Kevin Garnett – knee – Might play in one of last two.
Leon Powe – knee – Could play in one of last two.
Brian Scalabrine – concussion – No real value when healthy.
Raja Bell – calf – Could play, but out of playoffs makes him iffy.
Luol Deng – shin – Ship has sailed for the season.
Tim Thomas – personal – Should play Monday.
Ben Wallace – knee – left Sunday's game, could be out a while.
LeBron James – rest – Starters could rest on Wednesday.
J.J. Hickson – back – Out for a couple more weeks.
Josh Howard – ankle/wrist – Playing through it, but could sit Monday.
Jerry Stackhouse – foot – A lost season, hoping for playoffs.
Devean George – knee – Had season-ending surgery.
Kenyon Martin – ribs – Hoping to play on Monday.
Kwame Brown – hamstring – Could play Monday.
Allen Iverson – back – Career as Piston is over.
Jamal Crawford – back – Could be done for season.
Monta Ellis – ankle – Shut down for season.
Corey Maggette – concussion – Done for the season.
Anthony Randolph – knee – Been playing very well through pain.
Andris Biedrins – ankle – Back in action for now.
Brandan Wright – shoulder – Likely done for season.
Stephen Jackson – toe surgery – Done for year.
Jermareo Davidson – foot surgery – Ditto.
Marco Belinelli – toe – Too risky to play when healthy.
Tracy McGrady – knee – Season over.
Yao Ming – foot – Expected to play on Monday.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – Had surgery, out for season, and part of next.
Marquis Daniels – wrist – Time as Pacer is probably over.
Al Thornton – shoulder – Done for the year.
Marcus Camby – ankle – Surprisingly playing through it.
Mardy Collins – foot – Plantar fasciitis could end his year.
Ricky Davis – knee – Could be done for the year.
Quinton Ross – quad – Has no value when healthy.
Jermaine O'Neal – knee - Left Sunday's game. Nothing's Shocking.
Jamario Moon – Probably done with No. 5 seed clinched.
Udonis Haslem – thumb – Should be ready for playoffs.
Francisco Elson – hip – More minutes for Gadzuric.
Andrew Bogut – back – Season over.
Michael Redd – knee – Had surgery and is done for the season.
Kevin Ollie – hip – Could play on Monday.
Randy Foye – hip – Not likely to play again this year.
Al Jefferson – knee – Season over.
Devin Harris – shoulder – Sounds like he's playing Monday.
Eduardo Najera – ab strain – Out for season.
Tyson Chandler – ankle – Hoping for Wed., April 15.
Eddy Curry – knee – Done for the year.
Danilo Gallinari – back surgery – Ready for next year.
Thabo Sefolosha – finger – Done for season.
Nick Collison – thigh – Iffy rest of the way.
Desmond Mason – knee – Out for season.
Dwight Howard – rest – Could be given a day off, but not definite.
Hedo Turkoglu – ankle – Don't bet on him for either game.
J.J. Redick – back – Not worth the risk.
Rashard Lewis – knee – Out Monday, iffy for Wednesday.
Jameer Nelson – shoulder – Not likely to play again this season.
Thaddeus Young – ankle – Done for regular season.
Elton Brand – shoulder – Season over.
Amare Stoudemire – eye surgery – Getting ready for next year.
Martell Webster – foot – Out for season and playoffs.
Kevin Martin – ankle – Sounds like season is over.
Tim Duncan – knee – Sat Sunday, could play in both, but risky.
Manu Ginobili – ankle – Done for season and playoffs.
Kris Humphries – leg – Broken leg, out indefinitely.
Deron Williams – oblique – Day-to-day, but could miss both.
Mike James – finger – Done for year.
DeShawn Stevenson – back – Season-ending surgery.
Etan Thomas – knee – Trying to avoid surgery. Forget him.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Sounds like a go for Monday, then done.
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Turkoglu (ankle) not expected to play Monday </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Hedo Turkoglu - G/F - ORL - Apr. 13 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Hedo Turkoglu, who suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against the Nets, is not expected to play on Monday against the Bucks.
