SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

four-game teams: BOS, DAL, DEN, GSW, HOU, LAL, MEM, NJN, NOR, POR, SAS

three-game teams: CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, IND, MIA, MIN, OKC, ORL, SC, TOR, UTA, WAS

two-game teams: ATL, LAC, MIL, NYK, PHI

one-game teams: PHO

INJURY UPDATES

• Rafer Alston – use another option, if possible. Alston is expected back sometime during the week, but nothing specific is certain.

• Carmelo Anthony – bench Melo for the week. He’s out for at least two of the Nuggets’ four games this week and missing a third seems very likely. Figure on Linas Kleiza joining the starting lineup and Renaldo Balkman also getting extra run.

• Carlos Boozer – Boozer’s knee has stopped improving and he’s now set to see a specialist in Los Angeles after Christmas. Fantasy owners should keep him benched and brace for the worst, which would be surgery. Paul Millsap’s awesomeness will continue in perpetuity while he’s in the starting lineup.

• Elton Brand – At this point, it seems that Brand simply missing a month is the best that his fantasy owners can ask for.

• Mike Dunleavy – Dunleavy practiced for 10 minutes on Monday… and there was much rejoicing.

• Drew Gooden – he’s out for a week to 10 days because of a right ankle sprain. Andres Nocioni will see more playing time while Gooden and Tyrus Thomas (concussion) are sidelined, with Aaron Gray and Joakim Noah also seeing expanded roles. Thomas is day-to-day.

• Danny Granger, Troy Murphy, Marquis Daniels – all three players missed each of the past two games after being hospitalized for treatment for flu-like symptoms. The trio could be back in the lineup when the Pacers are back home on Tuesday, but be on the lookout for updates leading up to the game.

• Stephen Jackson – keep him benched this week. He’s aiming for a Friday return, but that would leave him with only two games on the week, one of which would be against the Celtics’ defense.

• Chris Kaman – Kaman isn’t going to return this week, and the Clippers only play twice anyway.

• Corey Maggette – his status remains up in the air, so it’s safe to keep him benched for at least another week.

• Kevin Martin – stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Martin remains sidelined indefinitely.

• Mike Miller – Miller is day-to-day with an ankle sprain and, given the T-Wolves’ three-game week, it makes sense to explore any and all other options.

• Peja Stojakovic – Peja has missed the past two games because of back soreness but has yet to be ruled out for the Hornets’ next game (Tuesday). Given the limitations of Peja’s fantasy impact at this point, feel free to downgrade him despite the Hornets’ four-game week.

• Beno Udrih – Udrih is probable for Monday night, so employ him as you normally would in a three-game week.

• Deron Williams – Williams didn’t practice Monday because of right calf and knee issues, but at this point he’s not expected to miss any of the Jazz’s three games this week.

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• Paul Millsap‘s fantasy owners have been enjoying quite a ride over the past month (9-cat per-game rank of 30) and you can’t help but wonder how much of a hit he’s going to take when Carlos Boozer is healthy enough to return. Although he’ll be headed back to the bench, Jerry Sloan knows what he has and will keep him on the court as much as possible. On the season, Millsap has averaged 35 minutes as a starter (13 games) and 26 as a sub (13 games) – figure on Sloan finding a way to get him 30 per night, with C.J. Miles and Kyle Korver seeing incremental decreases. Millsap’s defensive versatility and Mehmet Okur’s long-range capabilities should help make it so. It’s always a good idea to at least test the market in these kinds of situations, but those of you considering a “sell high” scenario shouldn’t be thinking there will be a major drop-off in production. And anyone unfamiliar with Millap’s magnificent college career should take a look at these numbers (he’s the only player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in rebounding in three consecutive years).

• Stephen Jackson continues to play through his hand injury, despite just 29 percent shooting during the month of December (28/98). You have to wonder how much longer his teammates’ wanting him out there will trump logic dictating some down time to get right. “It’s up to him if he wants to take some time off,” Don Nelson said. “But he thinks he can play on.” Sounds like a plan, coach. During his brick-laying streak, Jackson has moved ahead of Ron Artest as the cumulative leader in negative field goal percentage. The top five:

1. Jackson (.373, 386 FGA)
2. Artest (.354, 308 FGA)
3. Hedo Turkoglu (.380, 366 FGA)
4. Baron Davis (.390, 385 FGA)
5. DeShawn Stevenson (.322, 183 FGA)

• The Kings made the sixth coaching change of the young season on Monday, firing Reggie Theus and replacing him with assistant coach Kenny Natt. This move won’t make much difference in the fantasy or real-life standings – the collection of talent is what it is, and that’s barely a .500 team with Kevin Martin, who has played in just nine games and remains out indefinitely. The team’s focus is understandably not on the current season, and trading Brad Miller ($11.4M this season, $12.3 next) is now the top priority, along with next year’s other expiring contracts (Kenny Thomas $8.6M, Mikki Moore $6.2M).

• Andray Blatche made his second start of the season on Monday, scoring 19 points in 33 minutes against the Pacers. What is also of note is that the team lost by 20 (118-98) and he logged only two boards. But Ed Tapscott is going to stick with Blatche for now, so a roster add isn’t a bad idea. He’s currently owned in 13 percent of Yahoo! leagues and, despite his inconsistencies, has per-30 minute averages of 13.8 points, 6.7 boards, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks.

• The good news is that we have a Mike Dunleavy update. The bad news is that it’s just a more recent blurb reiterating that all anyone cares to divulge is that he won’t be returning soon. The thinner your free agent pool, the more sense it makes to hold on to him, but I can’t really blame anyone for cutting ties.

• A few NBA trade notes: a Grant Hill/J.J. Redick deal could be in the works. The Cavs apparently are not interested in Shawn Marion, but perhaps the Raptors are? One thing that is certain is that the Heat have him on the block.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

four-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, DAL, DEN, GSW, IND, LAC, MIL, NJN, NYK, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS

three-games teams: CLE, DET, HOU, LAL, MIA, MIN, NOR, OKC, PHI, POR, SAS

two-game teams: MEM, POR

INJURY UPDATES

• Rafer Alston – Alston suffered a left hamstring injury on Saturday that is expected to keep him out for a game or two, or maybe more. Figure on Aaron Brooks playing plenty when/if Alston can’t go during the Rockets’ three-game week (DEN, SAC, @MIN).

• Ron Artest – bench him for Week 8 and start lowering expectations, as there isn’t much positive news for Artest these days. He’s got slightly torn ligaments in his right ankle, something that will surely and consistently necessitate down time, which would only provide a short-term respite from pain. And now it appears that Artest will come off the bench when both he and Tracy McGrady are in the lineup – he’ll still play plenty, but in general fantasy owners should prepare for a scenario moving forward that includes occasional days off and fewer than the 39 minutes per game he’s played to this point. Carl Landry figures to be the direct beneficiary when Artest misses games.

• Carlos Boozer – Boozer has been participating in recent warm-ups but is still feeling pain in his knee when he does certain movements, so he’ll continue to sit and Paul Millsap will continue to be a double-double machine.

• Michael Beasley – Beasley missed Friday’s game and is questionable for Sunday because of illness; his fantasy impact has taken a hit since he moved to the bench, anyway, so you are likely to have better options at your disposal than the rookie in a three-game week (MIL, LAL, @NJN).

• Tyson Chandler – Chandler missed his second consecutive game on Sunday with neck stiffness and his status for Tuesday is up in the air. Given Chandler’s inconsistencies thus far, it makes sense to use other available options for Week 8.

• Dwight Howard – Howard missed the first game of his career on Saturday because of a sore knee and, while the injury is not thought to be serious, he’s also not likely to play Monday and may have an MRI on Tuesday. It makes sense to bench Howard for the week (and keep your fingers crossed).

• Josh Howard – three weeks after suffering a left ankle sprain, Howard is still dealing with swelling and has been shut down indefinitely. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry continue to pick up the scoring slack, while Jose Juan Barea has filled the gap in the starting lineup (15 points on 49 percent shooting, 0.7 threes, 4.8 assists in 31 minutes over the past six games).

• Zydrunas Ilgauskas – Big Z’s moderate ankle sprain has kept him out for the past two games. It’s doubtful that the 20-4 Cavs will press him back into action before he’s 100 percent, although he could have played Saturday had it been a playoff game. The Cavs have a favorable schedule (@MIN, @DEN, @OKC) but Anderson Varejao makes more sense for lineups, with Z on the bench.

• Chris Kaman – Kaman will need a few more weeks to deal with his strained left arch, so keep him on your bench.

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