Note: The Rundown will come in two installments this week, as I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan (born and raised near the ‘Burgh) and have a busy day ahead. Today I’ll deal with the schedule and possible roster additions, and then cover pertinent injury information tomorrow (we should know a bit more about this one by then).
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
four-game teams: BOS, DAL, DEN, GSW, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIN, NJN, NOR, NYK, ORL, PHO, POR, TOR, UTA, and WAS
three-game teams: ATL, CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, HOU, OKC, PHI, SAC and SAS
two-game teams: MIL
elsewhere on the web: NBA Schedule Analysis (RotoWire) and Basketball Monster ease rankings
PICKUPS/PLUG-INS
• Mike Conley – Mention Conley’s name and “He stinks” or “He’s overrated” is the usual refrain. To this point, he’s clearly earned those accolades and I’m not here to tell you that he’s turned the corner. With that said, Lionel Hollins is fully invested in him for the remainder of the season and, more often than not, starting point guards deserve consideration in fantasy. In the five games since Mike Iavaroni was dismissed, Conley has averaged 12 points on 47 percent shooting, 2 threes, 4 boards, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in 33 minutes, and the Grizz have a friendly Week 15 slate (@WAS, HOU, LAC, TOR).
• Mickael Pietrus – Split the difference between Pietrus’ two games since returning from injury and you’re looking at pretty good numbers across the board: 15.5 points on 59 percent shooting, 1.5 threes, 6.5 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 0.5 blocks in 29 minutes. And his helpful numbers on the season (12.1 points, 1.6 threes, 3.5 boards, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks) have come in under 26 minutes per game. The Magic are happy to have him back and have one of the best Week 15 schedules (DAL, LAC, @IND, NJN), so it makes sense to consider an add here.
• Antonio McDyess – The Kwame Brown experiment has run its course in Detroit, and McDyess is now set to have a bigger role moving forward. “This is a fine time to increase his minutes and still allow him to be fresh down the stretch,” said Michael Curry. Dyess has averaged 25 minutes in 24 games since rejoining the team in early December, posting averages of 7 points on 50 percent shooting, 8.5 boards, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Extrapolate those numbers over 30 minutes and you are looking at solid and consistent production from a center-eligible player.
• Ronny Turiaf – Turiaf made his first start of the season on Saturday versus the Rockets and, despite early foul trouble, totaled four points, 10 boards, four assists, two steals, and four blocks in 32 minutes. We all know that logic doesn’t typically play a part in Don Nelson’s decisions, but Turiaf would remain the starter if that were suddenly to change, as Andris Biedrins needs the hustle-board help. In 23 minutes over the past 11 games, Turiaf has averaged 6.5 points, 5.5 boards, 3.4 assists (versus just 0.6 turnovers), and 2.2 blocks. The Warriors face solid front lines in Week 15 (SAS, PHO, @PHO, UTA), so necessity may force Nelson to do the right thing and play Turiaf extensively.
• Flip Murray – Flip has slowly but surely been working his way into the role that Josh Childress vacated prior to the season. While he hasn’t quite become the roto champion that Childress was, his numbers in a few specific categories have been solid enough – over the past 11 games, he’s averaged 16.3 points on 53 percent shooting, 1.3 threes, and 1.4 steals in 29 minutes per game. The Hawks have a nice three-game schedule for swingmen in Week 15 (@MIN, @CHA, LAC).
• Sasha Pavlovic – His numbers may not wow you, but they certainly can help you, particularly if Pavlovic is sitting on the wire in your deep league. He’s locked in as the starter for at least a few more weeks, and in his eight starts thus far he’s averaged 11.6 points on 55 percent shooting, 2.3 threes, 3.6 boards, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 31 minutes. The Cavs’ three-game week should prove to be kind to three-point shooters (TOR, @NYK, LAL).
• Steve Novak – This just in: Novak can shoot the trey. Over the past eight games, he’s made 27 of 55 attempts from long range, good for 49 percent and 3.4 makes per game. That’s helped him stay on the court (25 minutes per game) and provide decent scoring (14.3 points on 49 percent shooting). Look elsewhere for anything other than offense (2.6 boards, 0.9 assists, 0.1 steals, 0.1 blocks in the eight games), but (very) deep leaguers should think about him for the Clippers’ four-game week (@MIA, @ORL, @MEM, @ATL). Keep in mind that we may be preparing for a Zach Randolph sighting by this time next week.
elsewhere on the web: The Week Ahead (Rotoworld), NBA injuries (Rotoworld), Week 15 Planner (CBS Sports), and Week 15 Preview (RotoExperts)
I know I bashed Conley and dropped him after that horrible game against the Nuggets, but he cleared waivers and after his good game against the Thunder I added him again… 3rd time’s a charm, right? He played pretty well last night. And if Turiaf could continue to start, that would be amazing. He could probably average 8 boards and 3 blocks if he got 30 mins.
But anyways, Bosh for Brook Lopez and his 1st rd pick.. Should I take it or ask for more?
I’d try to bleed him dry if you are losing bosh. i don’t know what kind of talent a first round pick will generate with 4 keepers per team.
Well I don’t have a 1st or 2nd round pick in next year’s draft because I used them to get guys like Durant and Bosh earlier in the year.
I don’t have a true center. Lopez is only 20 I think and if Vince Carter leaves, Lopez could have a bigger role in the offense next year.
Last year in the 1st round there were guys like Calderon, Jamison, Kevin Martin, Mo Williams… So nothing real special after the first couple guys.
His 1st round pick would be good though because he’s currently in 9th place and he has Bynum. So I would probably be getting a top 3 pick.
I emailed him asking for his 1st and 2nd rd pick, and Brook Lopez for Bosh and my 5th and 6th rd picks.
Looks like Karma decided to weigh in on the Bynum situation huh?
Yeah I thought about that this morning when I heard about it. Definitely karma.
Kobe must be feeling horrible.
And it’s crazy how he injured his knee last year against Memphis at about the same time.
what goes around comes around? oh yeah.. serves them right…
GO STEELERS !!!
Hey Buser I just joined the site finally and it is amazing. I got two good questions for ya. Who should I trade S.Marion for and is there any good centers that I can look at since I lost A.Blatche and A.Bynum to injuries with have A. Bogut just coming back?. The only guy I can depend upon is B.Lopez.
who is a FA in your league? in regards to dealing marion, what categories are you looking to improve?
I took up Chris Anderson but Noah, Kristic, Arthur, Boone, and McGee are still there. I’m looking to improve in rebounds and assists.
yeah not much there. you might think about darko – hollins may have plans for him at PF, and if so he’d provide REB and BLK
and marion’s trade value figures to be WILDLY inconsistent, so you won’t know until you shop him. you could throw an offer out for guys like calderon and deron williams to get started anyway
Thanks I’ll see what happens.
Buser, congrats oon the big win last night, truly an amazing game!!Love that city, many fond memories from my childhood, Squirrel Hill, 1979 “We are Family”, the cobra, mad-dog, pops, Manny Sanguillen comes through in the 10th….anyway
Who comes out on the better end of this deal going forward this year…Oden or Brand?? I realize that Brand is still getting his legs back, but am I crazy to consider dealing him for Oden?
i don’t know if crazy is the word, but i certainly like brand in that deal
Those Raptors… despite their poor record, they really are quite the impressive team, with the ability to play BOTH 4 and 3 games in the same week!
thanks for the catch
SAC has 3 games this week also.
heh thanks
Hey Buser, I’ve been visiting you site since it was promoted on waiver wire. Congrats. I enjoy reading your rundowns and buzz index. finally registered after reading some very interesting comments (fight bet. ashley and RT)
i need help though. i’m sick of amare’s inconsistent season and it seems like it’s getting worse every month. should i trade him or should i just wait it out esp. with shaq’s most recent comments (which i feel was somehow directed at him a bit)?
I know how you feel man I got him too, and it seems that the focus of the suns is all on shaq now. I wouldn’t know what to do with him either
if you can’t stand owning him, then trade him. i’m sure plenty of other managers would take him, so you may get what you consider fair value. he won’t be a top 5 player alongside shaq this season, but i do expect him to improve on his recent performances
Jason Thompson worth a look with Brad Miller slumping?
I would take a good look at Thompson — depends on who you are thinking of dropping, but he has been pretty solid. Then just hope for a Miller trade and you’re set.
he’s worth a look period, as he was going to continue to start at PF regardless of miller’s status/struggles. keep an eye on hawes in the event of a miller trade
Lineup: Calderon, Wade, Nelson, Marion, Lewis, Bosh, Hilario, Camby, Iverson, Stojackovic, Maggette, Bargnani, Marv. Williams, Bonner, Pietrus.
Would you drop any of the above for Thompson?
it is a head to head league…
if Marion comes back i wont be as weak on the OBoards…
however, i am facing the person i traded Millsap to, which saw Lewis come my way…so I will definitely need some help on the boards this week….who would you drop? thoughts?
drop bonner
I just jumped off the Krstic train in favor of Turiaf. I doubt anyone will pick him up, so if he improves his play I can always get him back. If Turiaf keeps starting he could be a good contributor down the stretch.
yeah the buzz around krstic has subsided, so he’s likely to stay on waives. just keep in mind that he could start on occasion alongside collison, depending on matchups
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