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Rose is back in beast mode. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Weekend Wonder: Derrick Rose averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 1.5 steals, a block and 1.5 threes in two games over the weekend. He shot 50 percent from the field, 95 percent from the free-throw line and turned the ball over three times per game. These averages include his somewhat mediocre line from Sunday in a 40-point blowout victory over the Grizzlies. After a rocky start, Rose is calming the nerves of his insecure owners.

Lines for Discussion:
Ricky Rubio (12/30): 4-7 FG (57%), 2-3 FT (67%), 2 threes, 12 Pts, 6 Reb, 12 Ast, 1 Stl, 5 TO; he’s worth starting for now

Carlos Delfino (12/30): 6-11 FG (55%), 3 threes, 15 Pts, 6 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl; he’s finally back and will be a solid source of threes

Spencer Hawes (12/30): 7-9 FG (78%), 1-1 FT (100%), 15 Pts, 13 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 Blk, 3 TO; I’m almost a believer (continue reading…)

Maybe this will even the field. (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: LeBron James finished with 41 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers made.  He shot 65 percent (15-23) from the field, 69 percent (9-13) from the line and had four turnovers. This was a nice “bounce-back” game after having two relatively quiet games after his 51/11/8 game on Feb. 3. James has been a top-five fantasy player during the past month.

Lines for Discussion:
Lou Williams: 8-13 FG (62%), 3-4 FT (75%), 1 three, 20 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 1 TO

Baron Davis: 8-16 FG (50%), 5-5 FT (100%), 4 threes, 25 Pts, 8 Reb, 8 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 TO (continue reading…)

Meeks should be owned in your league by now. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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

Waiver-wire watch:

• DeJuan Blair: trending upward, double-dipped in two straight games
• Omri Casspi: flavor of the week in Sacramento, hot now but will cool off soon
• Matt Bonner: worth owning in deep leagues if you desperately need threes
• Luke Ridnour: he’s playing well and though he’ll be in a timeshare soon, he’s still worth a look
• Nick Young: if you like streaks, give Young a look
• Nazr Mohammed: decent source of blocks and boards in deep leagues (continue reading…)

Is Brand primed for a bounce-back season?

Depth chart:
PG: Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams
SG: Evan Turner, Jodie Meeks
SF: Andre Iguodala, Andres Nocioni, Jason Kapono
PF: Thaddeus Young, Darius Songaila, Craig Brackins
C: Elton Brand, Spencer Hawes, Marreese Speights, Tony Battie

Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Andre Iguodala – G/F (Rd. 2-3): 16.5 Pts, 1 three, 6 Reb, 5.5 Ast, 1.5 Stl
Elton Brand – F/C (Rd. 9-10): 14 Pts, 7.5 Reb, 1 Stl, 1.5 Blk
Jrue Holiday – PG (Rd. 9-11): 12 Pts, 1 three, 3 Reb, 4.5 Ast, 1 Stl
Lou Williams – G (Rd. 11+):  11 Pts, 1 three, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl
Evan Turner – G/F (Rd. 11+):  10.5 Pts, 5 Reb, 3 Ast
Thaddeus Young – F (Rd. 12+): 11 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1 Stl
Spencer Hawes – C (Rd. 13+): 7 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1 Blk
Andres Nocioni – F (Rd. 13+): 9 Pts, 1 three (continue reading…)

Just another day in the office for James. (Getty Images/Jim McIsaac)

Beast of the Night: LeBron James put up 26 points, 7 rebounds, 14 dimes, 3 steals and 1 block in New Jersey. He shot 56 percent (10-18) from the field, 86 percent (6-7) from the line and had 3 turnovers. Though he’s averaging a career-high 8.6 assists per game this season, he’s also averaging 3.5 turnovers, his worst since his rookie season, not that anyone cares.

Noteworthy Lines:
Lou Williams – 11-15 FG (73%), 7-10 FT (70%), 1 3ptm, 30 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO

Tracy McGrady – 6-12 FG (50%), 7-8 FT (88%), 2 3ptm, 21 Pts, 7 Reb, 8 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 3 TO

Al Harrington – 10-17 FG (59%), 6 3ptm, 26 Pts, 8 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 TO (continue reading…)