fBasketballBlog

A.I. returns Monday. You know you're intrigued. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Game watch:
4 games: CHI, CLE, DEN, GS, MIN, NJ, POR, SA, TOR, UTA
3 games: ATL, BOS, CHA, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, LAL, MEM, MIL, NO, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, SAC
2 games: LAC, MIA, NY, WAS

Waiver wire watch:

• Joel Przybilla: Oden’s absence means significant minutes for The Vanilla Gorilla
• C.J. Watson: despite crowded, talented backcourt, he’s earning his minutes and contributing
• Ryan Gomes: on a roll, despite Kevin Love’s return
• Luke Ridnour: inconsistent, but good lines outweigh the bad ones lately
  
• Mickael Pietrus: three-point machine lately
• Wesley Matthews: starting job is secure, getting enough minutes to produce some nice lines
• Vladimir Radmanovic: getting major minutes, but will be inconsistent
• Andres Nocioni: quietly putting together some solid numbers, good for threes
• Chase Budinger: doing a lot with about 20 minutes a game, also good for threes
• Erick Dampier: many owners dropped him but he’s still good for boards, blocks

Injury watch:

• Greg Oden (knee): out for the season
• Richard Hamilton (ankle): close to returning
• Tayshaun Prince (back): ditto
• Tracy McGrady (knee): return date unknown, won’t get major minutes immediately
• Jermaine O’Neal (personal): could miss a week
• Micheal Redd (knee): practiced Saturday, return date still unknown
• Nenad Krstic (ankle): day-to-day
• Willie Green (hand): sprained it, A.I.’s return bigger downer for his value
• Andrei Kirilenko (back): still hurting him, might miss time again
• Kirk Hinrich (thumb): still bothersome, out indefinitely
• Tyrus Thomas (wrist): should return in the next week or so
• Yi Jianlian (lip): comeback from knee injury delayed about another week
• Danny Granger (heel): wearing a boot, monitor MRI results Monday
• Jose Calderon (groin): doesn’t seem serious, monitor his status
• Rudy Fernandez (back): day-to-day
• Andris Biedrins (back): nearing return, risky play this week

Stock watch:

↑ Allen Iverson: hasn’t played yet, but prospects for value are good

↑ Kevin Garnett: more consistent offense lately

↑  Brook Lopez: four of his last five games have been impressive

↑ Kevin Love: two games back, two double-doubles, and two threes, two steals per game

↑ Gilbert Arenas: keeping turnovers in check, handing out lots of assists

↓ Jason Richardson: hitting some threes, but mediocre overall lately

↓ Elton Brand: putting up decent numbers since return, but coming off bench

↓ Marc Gasol: three straight clunkers

↓ Amar’e Stoudemire: rebounding better but shooting worse, good buy-low candidate

↓ Ben Gordon: ankle injury, soon-to-be crowded backcourt doesn’t bode well