2/6/2005 04:27:36 PM|||Shep|||Here's what I'm thinking this week... (if you're playing Rotisserie, then the parts about the playoffs probably don't apply)

Paul Pierce: 47 FG% - 86 FT% - 4 FG3 - 100 PTS - 22 REB - 20 AST - 10 STL - 1 BLK - 8 TOV.

If you're near the top of the league and confident about making the playoffs, I said earlier this week that now is a good time to trade Pierce. His Celtics play only 3 games in each of the first two weeks of the playoffs and 6 games (about average) in the last two weeks of the season. Trading him for 1 or 2 players on Teams like Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Washington, Denver, or Memphis might be a good thing to think about. Especially consider those teams that will be vying for a playoff spot in those last few weeks (CHI, CLE, maybe NY, WAS, DEN, MEM).

If, on the other hand, you're still struggling to make it to the playoffs, do I said before and ride Pierce. He's shown signs this week of stepping up to the level he played at last year, and if he gets snubbed in a bid for the All-Star Game, then he may play even harder. I am in 8th right now, so I'll be going with the second option.

Brad Miller: 54 FG% - 80 FT% - 1 FG3 - 95 PTS - 40 REB - 18 AST - 8 STL - 6 BLK - 9 TOV.

Miller is another player to ride into the playoffs if you're currently still in the hunt. Webber is pretty much D2D for the rest of the year (probably), and Miller is a prime candidate to put up big numbers whenever C-Webb sits. However, like Pierce, Sacremento's fantasy playoff schedule sucks. The Kings play 4, 3, 2 and 2 over the last 4 weeks (the last 2 weeks are usually combined into a 2 week final - so if you're going for first place, this is especially important). No other team plays less than 5 games over that same 2 week span, and the ones I mentioned above in the Paul Pierce section all play 4, 4, and 6 during fantasy playoff time. You never know when trading someone like Miller could get you the extra game or two you need to beat someone in the playoffs.

Amare Stoudemire: 54 FG% - 85 FT% - 0 FG3 - 77 PTS - 41 REB - 4 AST - 1 STL - 1 BLK - 5 TOV.

While the 5 TOV is low... it's not that low for someone who handles the ball as little as the Man Child does. What's really interesting here, though, is the 1 steal and 1 block... While it's not anything to worry too much about since Stoudemire is still helping you to win 4 other categories, it's surprising to see him go 2 games without one of the either and a 3rd game with only 1 of each. I'm not downing the guy, because he's still quite amazing, but just something to notice when you're looking for possible holes in your team.

Theo Ratliff: 43 FG% - 87.5 FT% - 0 FG3 - 25 PTS - 24 REB - 3 AST - 3 STL - 13 BLK - 3 TOV.

The Blockinator is back. Averaging 4 blocks over the last 5 games is something we know Theo is certainly capable of, and it's nice to see that he's returned to his homeland. Now, he won't give you numbers like someone else in the NW part of the league (look near the bottom), but when it looks like he's actually trying to help you by making some free throws, he's definitely a worthy addition to H2H and Roto teams alike.

Stephen Jackson: 36 FG% - 79 FT% - 5 FG3 - 48 PTS - 12 REB - 3 AST - 1 STL - 1 BLK - 3 TOV.

The return of the, wait, uhn-uhn, he didn't just do what I think he did, did he? Hopefully the guy can keep his damn trap shut for long enough to get his shooting touch back. The numbers from this week don't accurately describe what the man can give fantasy owners willing to take on a bad attitude. They're not great numbers, but enough to fill in some holes. I'm sure those owners who gambled on buying him low earlier in the season are happy enough with his output now. The only bad thing about 2.3 FG3s per game is the 36% from the floor. Time to pick your battles, and decide where you can win.

Caron Butler: He's still playing as I write this, but what's more important than his stats is the fact that he's been the one to step up in Kobe's abscence. I'm sure Vegas (or at least one of those online betting places) had odds on who would be the Laker to pick up when Kobe went down. I went with Jermaine Jones since everyone else was already taken. The correct answer was Butler. If he's still available out there, I'd go for it. He's good for at least one more week, and possibly longer depending on how long the Lakers think they can stay in the playoff race without Kobe.

Your Chicago Bulls!: I'm not sure if Skiles is going to figure it out... While there appeared to be 4 or 5 legitimate fantasy players on this team before the season, the only one dependable enough to have on your team has been Captain Kirk. He always seems to be able to at least give a little something. That's more than can be said for the other guys. Curry still can't rebound, but Chandler can. Gordon can score 2 points/minute and still not get more playing time. Nocioni and/or Deng can score 17 one night and 4 the next. Unless one is filling up a niche on your team (like Chandler in rebounds, or Gordon in points and threes), I'd be trying hard to trade them for someone more consistent, even if their average numbers a little less (not so much in Roto, but certainly in H2H). The numbers will be there in the long run for Roto players, but if you want to win in H2H, you're better off with someone consistent. [This hasn't been scientifically proven, so you're free to disagree; but it's frustrating trying to decide whether to play Deng or Brian Cook or Juwan Howard, all of whom prove to be consistently inconsistent]

|||110772586164556117|||The Week That Was (2.6.05)