Monday equals line up day and there are a whole lot of injuries out there. Here is what you need to know to make sure you’re roster in right for the week. We’ll update you later on today with any breaking injury or lineup news.
Mike Dunleavy – It’s now or never. If he happens to be a free agent, pick him up right now. He’s expected to return sometime in the next 5 games. Don’t expect to start him for a couple of weeks though.
Wilson Chandler – Wilson Chandler might be the best thing Isiah did in his tenure in NYC (although David Lee was pretty nice as well). Chandler had a breakout game last night going for 31 points, 8 boards, 2 steals, and 1 block. The big question with Chandler in the next few years let alone this season is how his three game develops. He went 2 for 3 last night and although he’s streaky, is hitting over 1 per game. Next year the percentages should go up as well as the stats. He’ll be a very very high pick next season. Read More »
Nobody really thought that the Tar Heels were going to pull a ’76 Hoosiers, or even an ’04 St. Joe’s Hawks and sweep the regular season. Granted they’re stacked, but they’re not invincible. Al Skinner got his revenge last night, as the ACC’s forgotten coach popped his head out of the sand just in time to get some recognition for having a 13-2 season thus far. And in doing so, Skinner’s pride and joy, Tyrese Rice, gave Roy Williams‘ floor general everything he could handle. Ty Lawson, who we had projected at No. 22 of our mock draft to go to the Hawks, was totally ineffective, scoring only 10 points (3-13 FG), dishing out 4 assists and committing 3 turnovers.
After Nicolas Batum got up on the break last night and spiked a dunk on a defenseless Pau Gasol, the cameras panned immediately to LaMarcus Aldridge. It wasn’t because L.A. was hopping around and smiling – it’s because camera men, just like pretty much everyone inside the Staples Center – didn’t realize who Nic Batum is. Doesn’t that make it all the more insulting for Pau?
Even when they do guard each other, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard historically put up Moses-like numbers when their teams face off. And when CB4 and The Centaur are kept away from each other (don’t wanna risk foul trouble), they really put in work. With Jermaine O’Neal sidelined for yesterday’s Raps/Magic tip and Andrea Bargnani stuck guarding Dwight, you knew what was gonna happen; Dwight finished with 39 points (14-19 FG’s, 11-18 FT’s) — several of them on dunks right in front of a calcified Bargs — including nine quick ones in the game’s first three minutes before he picked up two fouls. As soon as Dwight went to the bench Toronto capitalized, building a double-digit lead while Bosh (23 pts, 11 rebs) did most of his damage on Rashard Lewis. Tied up with 2:30 left in the fourth quarter, Orlando effed up when J.J. Redick wound up in front of Bosh on a switch; Bosh immediately went to the rack and made a reverse up-and-under layup that, honestly, we doubt any other 6-11 or 7-foot guy in the League can make. The shot actually didn’t count because Redick fouled Bosh on the floor, but Toronto never trailed after Bosh hit the free throws … Read More »
After getting worked over by Andre Miller for 47 minutes and 50 seconds, Tony Parker had the final say in last night’s Spurs/Sixers game. A certain Philly fan in the Dime office swears TP traveled before passing the ball to Manu. You be the judge…
Tyrus Thomas – Thomas looked awesome last night for the Bulls. He blocked 5 shots in the first half and finished with 8 blocks, 8 boards, and 15 points. You just never know in Chicago how it’s going to play out and don’t forget that Thomas was starting at the beginning of the season and simply couldn’t put it all together consistently. Still, he’s a good risk pick up, especially for roto owners.
Kevin Martin – Welcome back. For real this time. WOW was he good last night. Martin dropped 45 points on 7 threes and added 6 dimes. The ankle is a thing of the past. Read More »
Forget the box score; what Dwyane Wade did against the Nets last night might have been the single most dominant individual performance of this NBA season. Wade struggled initially while New Jersey built a 15-point first half lead, and things only got worse in the third quarter when he bumped knees with Jarvis Hayes and left the court for a stretch that included the first few minutes of the fourth. Returning from the locker room with his knee wrapped in ice, Wade checked in at the 7:30 mark and proceeded to go Takeover on Jay-Hova‘s squad. In-and-outs, crosses, stutter-steps, blow-bys — he got into the paint time and time again, either scoring or getting to the line, engaged in a shootout with none other than Keyon Dooling (23 pts, 7 asts). In the last 40 seconds of the quarter Wade made two crucial blocks, first getting Brook Lopez at the rim and later tossing a Vince Carter offering into the crowd … In overtime, Wade rejected Lopez AGAIN chest-to-chest at the rim, then came down on the other end and hit a tough fallaway J going to his right. A couple possessions later he hit a similar shot going to his left, taking a bump from Yi Jianlian and doing the ‘Toine Shimmy while laying on his back. Read More »
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