Dalembert is thriving with A.I. back in Philly. (NBAE via Getty Images/Jesse D. Garrabrant)
Game watch:
4 games: CHA, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIN, NJ, NO, NY, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS
3 games: ATL, BOS, CHI, GS, MIA, MIL, PHO, SA
Waiver wire watch:
- C.J. Watson: continues to play well, even with Anthony Morrow back in the lineup
- Jarrett Jack: benefits most from Jose Calderon’s absence
- Erick Dampier: picking things up from where he left them before illness
- Beno Udrih: subtly productive
- Dorrell Wright: consistently getting 25+ minutes, good for threes
- Roy Hibbert: still disappointing, but promise is still there
- Brandon Rush: slowly getting more aggressive with Danny Granger out
- Tyler Hansbrough: also benefits from Granger’s injury
- Omri Casspi: still faring well
Injury watch:
- Daniel Gibson (finger): day-to-day
- Will Bynum (ankle): could return soon
- Ben Gordon (ankle): ditto
- Tayshaun Prince (back): ditto
- Tracy McGrady (knee): situation remains murky
- Quentin Richardson (hamstring): questionable for Tuesday
- Ryan Gomes (ankle, knee): monitor his status
- Marreese Speights (knee): practicing
- Willie Green (knee): expected to return Monday
- Jose Calderon (hip): could be out for a while, monitor his status
- Andrei Kirilenko (back): could return Monday
- Allen Iverson (knee, shin): out of shape, as expected
- Vince Carter (flu, knee, hip): probable Monday, but check his status
Stock watch:
↑ Mike Dunleavy: playing-time limit raised to 24 minutes per game, playing very efficiently so far
↑ Al Jefferson: double-doubled in six consecutive games, look closer to being himself
↑ Samuel Dalembert: Iverson’s return seems to be his spark
↑ Mike Conley: finally doing something with his starting job
↑ Chris Duhon: slowly stepping up his game
↓ Allen Iverson: still a few weeks away from being in game shape
↓ Tony Parker: underwhelming numbers so far this season
↓ Andrew Bynum: hasn’t double-doubled since Nov. 17
↓ Boris Diaw: downright disconcerting play lately
↓ Trevor Ariza: two straight clunkers, suspension could be coming