Fantasy Related But Great Info.......
Man-u Down - For Good
Manu Down – For Good
While it's strange to be writing a Dose without any games being played on Monday night, the news must go on. And owners of
Manu Ginobili got a serious wake-up call when it was announced that he was done for the rest of the season (and the playoffs) with a stress fracture in his surgically repaired right ankle. Grab
Roger Mason Jr. or
Michael Finley if you need to, and move on. It's been a lost season for Ginobili, as it has for most of the guys coming into the season with a serious injury. Note to everyone: Don't draft injured players next year, unless they're a sure bet to come back.
This is going to be short and sweet, as we prepare for a nine-game night in the NBA.
Z-Doh!
Zach Randolph was arrested around 2:25 on Monday morning after his Rolls Royce was observed to be swerving on a California highway after the Clippers lost to the Lakers on Sunday night. To make a long story short, Z-Bo was picked up for his second (that I know of) DUI and was subsequently suspended for two games by the Clippers. If Z-Bo is locked into your lineup, I really do feel bad for you. This is about as tough a break as anyone can withstand in championship week, and he even remains questionable for Saturday's game against the Blazers. That means he's out for Tuesday and Friday against the T-Wolves and Kings, and owners have to wonder if he'll play on Saturday. I really have no idea as to his status for Saturday, so you are on you own. The best advice I can give is to get him benched until we get more information on his status later in the week.
Rajon Rondo Tweaks Ankle
Rajon Rondo tweaked an ankle in practice on Monday and limped off the floor, although the Celtics maintain the injury is not serious. We'll see about that, as no one is as protective of injured stars as Doc Rivers. Will he play on Wednesday against the Nets? I'm going to call him "probable," as Doc said the injury wasn't serious, but also couldn't even tell us which ankle he tweaked. The fact he was already banged up before aggravating the injury doesn't sit all that well with me, but I guess that if I owned him, I'd start him. But I probably wouldn't sleep too comfortably knowing that his fate was in Rivers' hands. You and I both know that Doc wears kid gloves with his studs.
Sunday, Bynum Sunday
Andrew Bynum is now said to be targeting Sunday's game at home against Memphis as his target date. And that's news, because Bynum's previous two knee injuries came against – yep - Memphis. Bynum doesn't feel great about rolling the dice against the Grizzlies again, but coach Phil Jackson has told him that he needs to face his fear, so to speak. This has bad karma written all over it, but in terms of fantasyland, Bynum doesn't offer much fantasy intrigue even if he is fully healthy for a prom date with Carrie. Ignore him, unless you are in a very deep fantasy league where there are no centers available on the wire. If he happens to come out of the Memphis game in one piece, the Lakers play just one more time, and that's next Tuesday against the Jazz.
Lamar Odom will likely be pushed to the bench when Bynum returns (as the Lakers want him to come in hot after warm-ups), but Odom should still get the minutes. Bynum is expected to be fairly limited, so if you own Odom, go ahead and roll with him for four games this week.
The Law Firm of Foye, Love & Smith
Randy Foye's season appears to be over, thanks to a hip injury, although he says he will do whatever it takes to play again this year. I still don't see the point, and would drop him for a hot free agent.
Kevin Love is expected to play against the Clippers on Tuesday, and should be put into lineups this week after he missed a game with the flu.
Craig Smith is expected to play after a four-game absence with a calf injury, and is a super-sleeper against the Clippers, Warriors and Suns this week. Weigh your options carefully before rolling with Smith, but give him a look.
Haslem Knights
Udonis Haslem will miss the rest of the regular season with a lacerated thumb, and may miss the first round of the playoffs.
Michael Beasley,
Jamaal Magloire and
Yakhouba Diawara should all see an increase in minutes for the Heat's remaining five games, but none are reliable.
Marvin Lingering
Marvin Williams returned to Hawks practice on Monday, but is not expected to play in their next two games. I would be surprised if he plays before the postseason, so I recommend just ignoring him the rest of the way, as there is still no actual target date for him to play in a game.
Kings Of Leon
Perhaps I have never written a more obsequious blurb than the one about
Kevin Martin and
Spencer Hawes on Monday. Martin is iffy for Tuesday's game against the Lakers with a lingering ankle injury, but says he's ready to play. Hawes is having his eye injury monitored closely, but is also a game-time decision for Tuesday. I guess my official shot in the dark is that Martin will play and Hawes will not. But really, that is just a guess. Owners need to weigh their options carefully and go with a decision that makes the most sense. If you're in a championship game, I'd probably go with someone who is guaranteed to play, but if you're hoping to shock the world against a formidable opponent, you could roll the dice. Good luck.
Fisher King
Derek Fisher's foot injury healed over night and he now looks like a near guarantee to play four games this week. I am still not sure if that means he should be in starting lineups, but if you're considering him, it at least sounds like he will play in all four.
I Got 99 Problems, And A Starting Shooting Guard Ain't One
Other guys to worry about this week include:
Anderson Varejao,
Raja Bell,
Jamal Crawford,
Kelenna Azubuike,
Monta Ellis,
Josh Howard,
Kenyon Martin,
Carl Landry,
Chris Kaman,
Marcus Camby,
Devin Harris,
Keyon Dooling,
Vince Carter,
Mickael Pietrus,
Larry Hughes,
Shaun Livingston,
LaMarcus Aldridge,
Kevin Martin,
Spencer Hawes,
Tim Duncan,
Chris Bosh,
Gilbert Arenas and
Caron Butler.
Varejao - No updates on his status, no need to risk it.
Bell - Sounds serious – bench him.
Crawford – Strong last week, limited options in GSW.
Azubuike – Ditto.
Ellis – Your call is as good as mine – Feel lucky? I don't.
Josh Howard – I bet he finishes strong, but just a hunch.
Kenyon Martin – Done – bench, or cut him.
Landry – Close to a return, but not worth starting.
Kaman – Should play through flu.
Camby – I think he's done.
Harris – I think he'll keep playing.
Dooling – Should be good to go regardless of record.
Carter – Anyone's guess – Risky once Nets are out.
Pietrus –
Courtney Lee looks much better.
Hughes – Should play all week, but how well?
Livingston – Could have a big week with four games.
Aldridge – Wrist injury not serious, roll with him.
Kevin Martin – Says he's playing, so I guess you roll with him.
Hawes – True game-time decision.
Duncan – Could miss two games, check options!
Bosh – Shut down could be coming, but Raptors are hot!
Arenas – Could play in three of last four.
Butler – Hot right now, hope he keeps playing.