fBasketballBlog

Dudley's deserving of a late-season pickup if he's still available in your league. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

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

Waiver-wire watch:

• Jared Dudley: he’s started his last four games and has averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, three steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.8 threes in that stretch
• Tony Allen: he won’t hit many threes, but Allen is doing a lot in just about every other column, especially steals
• Jerryd Bayless: he had a great line in his start Saturday without Jose Calderon; if Calderon misses more time with his bum hammy, Bayless will finish the season as a stud
• Ed Davis: he’s racked up three double-doubles in his last four games and is worth a look if you need big-man stats, especially while Andrea Bargnani is out (continue reading…)

Playing alongside Blake Griffin will do plenty to help Mo get back up. (Flickr/Keith Allison)

With a few more hours to go before this season’s NBA trade deadline expires at 3 p.m. EST today, we have some more deals to discuss. Baron Davis, Mo Williams and Kirk Hinrich were all part of deals that happened after the trades involving Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams. Below is a quick look at the fantasy basketball implications of these recent deals. If you want more than colors and arrows, head on over to DimeMag.com to read my fuller perspectives. (continue reading…)

James returned from a two-game absence and did his thing. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

[Read the full post at DimeMag.com]

Beast of the Night: LeBron James made up for lost time after missing two games with an ankle injury by putting up 34 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two threes. He shot 36.7 percent (11-30) from the field, 91 percent (10-11) from the line and had six turnovers. James is averaging 31.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.6 threes and 4.0 turnovers so far in 2011.

Lines for Discussion:
Mike Bibby: 5-11 FG (46%), 1-2 FT (50%), 4 threes, 15 Pts, 3 Reb, 1 Stl

Gerald Wallace: 5-14 FG (36%), 3-3 FT (100%), 13 Pts, 16 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Blk, 1 TO (continue reading…)

Yes, coach Drew will eventually hand the keys to the starting PG gig to Teague. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Depth chart:
PG: Mike Bibby, Jeff Teague
SG: Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Jordan Crawford, Pape Sy
SF: Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans
PF: Josh Smith, Josh Powell
C: Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia, Etan Thomas, Jason Collins

Relevant fantasy players and projected draft positions/per-game stats:
Josh Smith – PF (Rd. 2): 16 Pts, 9 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 1.5 Stl, 2 Blk
Al Horford – F/C (Rd. 2-3): 15 Pts, 10.5 Reb, 2.5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1.5 Blk
Joe Johnson – G/F (Rd. 2-3): 20 Pts, 2 threes, 4.5 Reb, 4.5 Ast, 1 Stl
Jamal Crawford – G (Rd. 6-7): 17.5 Pts, 2 threes, 2 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl
Marvin Williams – F (Rd. 11+): 10 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1 Stl
Mike Bibby – PG (Rd. 13+): 7 Pts, 1 three, 3 Ast
Jeff Teague – PG (Rd. 13+): 10 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl (continue reading…)

LeBron is always above the rest. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

Beast of the Night: LeBron James finished with 32 points, 2 threes, 9 boards, 9 dimes, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 6 turnovers. He shot 46 percent (11-24) from the field and 80 percent (8-10) from the line.

Noteworthy Lines:
Mike Bibby – 6-11 FG (55%), 1-1 FT (100%), 4 3ptm, 17 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO

Jose Calderon – 3-8 FG (38%), 2-4 FT (50%), 1 3ptm, 9 Pts, 3 Reb, 6 Ast, 2 Stl

Andrea Bargnani – 8-14 FG (57%), 4-6 FT (67%), 2 3ptm, 22 Pts, 11 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Blk, 1 TO (continue reading…)