Picks and Roles provides all the vital information you need in making those tough lineup decisions for the week ahead. This week we have four teams -- Kings, Bucks, Pacers, and Wizards -- who play just two times. Aside from the obvious guys like Danny Granger, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, I would only consider Tyreke Evans and Andrew Bogut as players to slot into your lineup. Obviously, since most of us play in a "two center" league, if you have to start Roy Hibbert I could see you making the case.
Jason Thompson is another guy on the fringe this week. He's starting to look more and more like a top 50 fantasy baller this year. Brandon Jennings would be another guy you could consider. Though if it comes down to a point guard who plays four times and Jennings, you have to take the four games. Same can be said about Thompson and the other fantasy fringe players. Maximize your games played, it's Fantasy 101.
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Start 'Em
Josh Howard is back, and with the Mavs playing four times this week it's pretty safe to get him back into your lineup. He's started at the two-guard on Saturday, so if you have/like Howard -- which I have nor neither like him -- feel free to start him.
Pau Gasol "should" be ready to go for Thursday's game against the Suns -- yes, the Lakers don't play until Thursday night. Look, I started him last week thinking he was ready to go for at least the second half of the week and got burned. It's really your decision, but I'm starting him this week, hoping that with the week not starting for the Lakers until Thursday he should be ready to go by then.
Leandro Barbosa got into the lineup on on Sunday against the Wizards. He played just 18 minutes and scoring nine points on 4-of-7 shooting with a three and four assists. The Suns play four times this week, so you could role the dice with him in place of guys like Brandon Rush or Randy Foye who only play twice.
Question 'Em
Wait to see if Andris Biedrins plays, and performs, tonight before you make a decision on starting him or not. This also impacts whether or not you want to take a flier on Anthony Randolph this week. The Warriors have one of the more favorable schedules this week, so it might be to your benefit to see how Don Nelson rolls the dice tonight with his dartboard lineup.
Update: Biedrins seems to still bothered by his bad back. He scored just two points in 21 minutes against the Kings. Might be worth sitting him until we know that he can go 30-plus minutes per game without having to worry about his back.
Ryan Anderson is questionable for the start of the week. We'll learn more tonight, but it's worth paying attention to because Brandon Bass would make a nice flier if Anderson is out. I'll continue to look for updates and post them here as we find out more.
Vince Carter's status is still questionable. Obviously you'd like to get him in your lineup, but you might want to follow the game tonight to see if there are any updates on how his ankle is healing.
Sit 'Em
Kenyon Martin is now considered day-to-day, but I'd still sit him this week. Denver plays three times this week, including a back-to-back stint on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Bulls and Bucks, respectively. The leg was thought to be broken, but the MRI came back negative. Still, I wouldn't take the risk. He's had his share of injuries and even though he says he can play through it, Martin isn't an impact player and the risk isn't worth the reward as far as I'm concerned.
Allen Iverson left the team on Saturday due to "personal" reasons, and since we don't know the specific details I'll wait until he actually gets back on the court to set him into my lineup. I'd rather not take a chance in him missing the week, or any one of his team's three games for that matter. Those are my "personal" feelings.
Tony Parker is out for the week. I wouldn't jump all over George Hill just yet. Not sure he can give you much more than a mediocre line.
Richard Hamilton doesn't sound like he's close to returning. I'd park him on the bench this week. Troy Murphy should sit on your bench this week. The Pacers play just two times and Murph is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Warriors. Not worth the gamble as far as I'm concerned.
Paul Millsap is not making the cut this week in my lineup. Sure the Jazz play four times this week, but Millsap has posted just 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in 22.4 minutes over the past three games. To put it into perspective, Wes Matthews is averaging 10.7 points in 20 minutes for the Jazz over the past three. Sigh.
I'll continue to update through the evening as we learn more about the status of certain players.
