Give Me The Rock
this is fantasy basketball
Have we really hit the last week of fantasy basketball? If you’re one of the lucky ones, you are either wrapping up a roto league or you’ve already finished your H2H championships a week or two ago. If your team is in a championship this week? You’re probably screwed.
But let GMTR help you out. Jeff of Four-Point Play mentioned to Nels and I that it would be good idea to note who to play and who not to play in the last week of the fantasy season as teams rest starters for the playoffs, tank for lottery position, and just don’t give a shit anymore (my words, not his). My only reservation is that I couldn’t get something up earlier. Here’s a team-by-team rundown for the Eastern Conference (with the West to come).
Atlanta Hawks: With the Hawks fighting for a playoff spot, you can be sure that all their starters will be playing. In fact, they only went 9 deep during their last game against the Pacers. Joe Johnson hit 44 minutes while Bibby’s 27 was more because of his recent slump (0-8 in that game) than actually trying to get the guy some rest.
Boston Celtics: Doc Rivers is resting his starters. Well, he’s resting them as only Doc Rivers can. After sitting KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce against the Bobcats on Saturday, Allen got 37, Pierce got 37, and KG got 31 minutes in a C’s loss to the Wizards on Wednesday. Expect more of the same from the Big 3 this year – meaning you can expect a feast or famine depending on the whims of Doc on any given day (very scary). In the meantime, expect Rondo to log some serious minutes as Sam Cassell won’t see much time until the playoffs.
Charlotte Bobcats: It appears that a groin injury is going to bench Gerald Wallace for the rest of the season, which is sevens for Matt Carroll (who got 40 minutes in the Bobcats most recent game). Otherwise, the starters (read Jason Richardson, Raymond Felton, and Emeka Okafor) are full steam ahead. Jared Dudley could get some play as a sixth man over the last week, which would be great if his offensive game didn’t suck as hard as my picking up women skills.
Chicago Bulls: As Nels noted, Tyrus Thomas is finally getting some play for the Bulls (26 minutes against Orlando). Otherwise, it’s a team going through the motions to finish out the slog (25 minutes and minimal effort from everyone). Just like in real life, I wouldn’t be excited if I had to rely on any Bull for the playoffs. Well, with the possible exception of Aaron Gray who has shown a little effort.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The only Cav really worth worrying about is THE ONE (the one with a bad back). He got 35 minutes in his last game and managed a 33/7/8. Let’s get real: If you’ve made it this far with LeBron, you’re not going to sit him now. In other news, the Cavs are cutting back slightly on their starters’ minutes (such as giving 25 to Delonte and 29 to Big Z). It’s just enough to screw a fantasy team in championship series.
Detroit Pistions: Doc Rivers, take some notes, this is how you rest a basketball team. Flip Saunders is giving the starters about 20 minutes a game. That means the Pistons five, with the possible exception of Chauncey Billups, should be benched if you have better alternatives. Unfortunately, (for fantasy teams) the Pistons are deep, meaning that studs like Amir Johnson and Walter Herrmann (totally not serious about that last one) aren’t getting the minutes to make them worth a pickup. Rodney Stuckey is the only guy who should be considered from the Pistons bench and only in deep leagues.
Indiana Pacers: They still have an outside shot at a playoff spot and they are hot (and I’m just not talking about the smooth looks of Ike Diogu), so stick Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy in your lineups with no worries. Just don’t expect more than 20 minutes from Jermaine O’Neal (18, 20, 19, 20, and 19 since his return). Marquis Daniels is also getting some play in the Pacers recent run (although there are better pickups if you are looking for someone).
Miami Heat: Kasib Powell, Stephane Lasme, Earl Barron, Joel Anthony, Daequan Cook? My head is hurting. Just stay away. Oh, also, Jason Williams is back, which sounds nice in theory, except that his return means the end of Chris Quinn as a fantasy contributor (yes, the Chris Quinn who is starting for me in the GMTR Readers Championship game).
Milwaukee Bucks: Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions. Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions. Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions. And if you’re really desperate (and I’m talking about jerking it to the Sears catalogue desperate), did you know that Bobby Simmons has scored double digits in the past 6 games? His stats look serviceable enough (well, until he strains his groin the day after you pick him up).
New Jersey Nets: The Nets aren’t fighting for a playoff spot anymore and yet Vince Carter played 40 minutes in their last game? Color me confused. Net’s uberkind Josh Boone has been out with a tweaked right knee for the past few games and that has given playing time to Nenad Krstic (8 and 7 in his last game). Ok, 8 and 7 is garbage. Also manning the box for the Nets are Stromile Swift and DeSagana Diop. Garbage. Total garbage.
New York Knicks: I picked up and actually played Quentin Richardson last week. So, what the hell do I know about the Knicks? Ok, you didn’t hear this from me, but Wilson Chandler has put together 3 good games in a row (averaging about 18 points and 8 boards). He’d be a risky play, but one that champions are made of.
Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard is busy abusing the Bulls, so all seems good with the Magic. Even though they have the third seed locked up in the East, they’re a young team, so expect their starters to play decent minutes the rest of the season.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers are another team fighting for playoff position and according to this article, they won’t be letting up anytime soon: “Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks spent three off days reminding his players there are still reasons to play hard, still goals to aim for. He wants them to play for the highest possible seed in the NBA East, without regard for possible opponents.” In the spirit of that article, Andre Miller got 40 minutes and Andre Iguodala 42 in the Sixers most recent game against Detroit.
Toronto Raptors: Toronto is another team that, despite having already clinched a playoff spot, is still playing its starters in heavy rotation as they fight for playoff position. Bosh is getting 40 minutes a game, while Ford, Parker, and Moon are still getting 30+. Toronto has done their best to bury Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, and Carlos Delfino during the past couple months and unfortunately that is not going to change this season. If you haven’t done so, I beg of you to look at Rasho Nesterovic’s game log over the last month. The man has scored in double digits for almost a month straight, averaging 7+ rebounds over that time. It’s ridiculous. It’s unbelievable. It’s a guy you’ve got to at least think about if your team needs rebounds, points, or blocks.
Washington Wizards: Gilbert Arenas is back, but he’s only averaging about 21-22 minutes a game. I wouldn’t expect him to be a significant force again until the playoffs (for those of you who held onto him all year, the term is ‘sunk cost’). Antawn Jamison is also back from a shoulder injury that kept him out two games and he played a solid 37 minutes in his first game back. With the Wizards fighting for playoff position (i.e. let’s not play Boston or Detroit in the first round) the starters will be seeing heavy minutes.
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