fBasketballBlog

Guess who's back in Orlando? (Flickr/Keith Allison)

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

Waiver-wire watch:

• Brandon Bass: at worst, he’ll be in a timeshare at PF with Hedo Turkoglu; at best, the PF spot
• Nick Young: his 30-point game on Saturday shows his value with Gilbert Arenas out of town, but he’s still mostly points and threes
• Marcin Gortat: he’ll get more minutes than he did in Orlando, which makes him worth consideration in most leagues
• Reggie Williams: his time is short, but so long as Curry is out, Williams is worth owning
• Leandro Barbosa: he’s scored in double digits in five straight games
  
• Spencer Hawes: if you need a center, he’s your man
• Chris Douglas-Roberts: his days of value are numbered, but he’s worth a look
• DeAndre Jordan: he’s an inconsistent center but will get his minutes while Chris Kaman is out
• Ty Lawson: he should be owned in all leagues while Chauncey Billups is out
• Marcus Thornton: back-to-back 19-point games are a sight for sore eyes
• Anthony Parker: he’s proving to be a somewhat steady option for deeper leagues
• Mario Chalmers: he’s a point guard to consider in deep leagues
• Marvin Williams: Joe Johnson is back earlier than expected, but Williams is still worth consideration
• Brandon Rush: despite timeshare, he’s relevant in most leagues
• Martell Webster: he continues to offer decent value off the bench for Minnesota
• Dante Cunningham: could be worth a look in deeper leagues while Portland’s frontcourt heals up
• Josh Howard: he’s back and is worth a speculative pickup

Injury watch:

• Shaquille O’Neal (calf): game-time decision today
• Kevin Garnett (leg): soreness limited him in Saturday’s practice, but should play today
• Semih Erden (groin): questionable today
• Jermaine O’Neal (knee): went through a full practice for the first time in more than a month Saturday
• Taj Gibson (concussion): day-to-day
• Brian Cook (ankle): out at least a week
• DeMarcus Cousins (ankle, wrist): questionable today
• Joey Graham (quad): out 2-3 weeks
• Aaron Brooks (ankle): should return today
• Darko Milicic (ankle): day-to-day
• Joel Przybilla (ankle): day-to-day
• Marcus Camby (shoulder): ditto
• George Hill (toe): day-to-day
• Delonte West (wrist): aiming to return in mid-January
• Kenyon Martin (knee): could return as early as Wednesday
• Chris Andersen (back): could return Dec. 22
• Chauncey Billups (wrist): ditto
• Andris Biedrins (back): day-to-day
• Steve Nash (neck): day-to-day, but shouldn’t miss much time
• Brandon Roy (knee): out for two more games
• Jose Calderon (foot, ankle): probable today, but should be monitored

Stock watch:

↑ Wilson Chandler: he’s been great lately, hitting threes, stealing and blocking well

↑ Hedo Turkoglu: a return to Orland should do him well, though expectations shouldn’t be too high

↑ Paul Pierce: after a string of pedestrian lines, last two have been solid

↑ Carlos Boozer: with injuries to Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, Boozer will be heavily relied on

↑ Arron Afflalo: he’s quietly relevant again

↓ Josh Smith: he’s been average lately

↓ Al Jefferson: he averaged a meager 10.3 points on 32.5 percent shooting last week, but 2.3 blocks have been his saving grace

↓ Jason Richardson: he’ll still be good for threes, but minutes and shots won’t be as available as they were in Phoenix

↓ Baron Davis: starting gig has done nothing to revive his value

↓ Tyrus Thomas: realized trade rumors for the Bobcats are the only surefire way to bump up his fantasy value