On Sunday I was fortunate enough to attend Jeff Mans’s FantasyAlarm event at the Famous Dave’s in Bolingbrook, and it was a great time. I hope I am able to tag along for more events like it in the future, and I hope more FantasyAlarm readers come join in the fun. I had a blast meeting everyone, eating some really good food and watching some not-very-good football.
I know everyone says this about whatever site they write for, but I really like everyone I have met at FantasyAlarm, and it was great to spend some time with them Sunday. I feel like we are working together to create something really special, and it feels great to be a part of it. I know as we get even more time together under our belt we will continue to get even better.
The same, of course, is true of most NBA teams. One of the big buzzwords right now in the NBA is continuity, and a with a quick look at the current landscape, it is easy to see why. The Warriors and Grizzlies own the two best records in the NBA, and it probably is not a coincidence their core players have been together for a few years now. We do not have any way of knowing for sure how important continuity is, but I think we can all agree it makes a difference. Last season’s NBA finalists, the Heat and Spurs, are great examples. Neither team was as talented as they had been in the past, but their collective experience together helped make up for some of those deficiencies.
When we look at fantasy basketball injuries, we rarely think about continuity. We simply look to see who is playing more minutes, or getting more shots, and plug that guy into our lineup. That is a mistake. One injury to a bench player can throw off an entire rotation, and force players into roles for which they are not suited. As we look at the latest NBA injury news I will try to keep that in mind.
DaMarcus Cousins had 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists against Milwaukee Thursday in his first game back from a 10-game absence. It seems pretty clear Cousins’s fantasy owners should not be concerned about any lingering effects from his viral meningitis, but I am concerned about Cousins in the wake of Michael Malone’s firing. Cousins’s appeared to make huge strides this season in avoiding technical fouls and getting along with his teammates, and there has to be at least some concern he backslides some with Malone gone. The Kings’ locker room was reportedly pretty dejected following their 108-107 loss to the Bucks Thursday, and unless they start winning again, things could get ugly. It seems unlikely Cousins can play any better than he has so far this season, and if you can get top-10 value for him, I think you should do it.
Kevin Durant suffered a mild ankle sprain Thursday and did not play Friday, though it seems he has a good chance to play Sunday against the Pelicans. Andre Roberson has 20 points and 19 rebounds over his last two games, and he is an interesting player in deep leagues if Durant misses more time.
Jabari Parker is out for the season after tearing his ACL earlier in the week. Ersan Ilyasova remains out with a facial fracture and concussion, though he was fitted with a mask Monday and could be relatively close to returning. Ilyasova is a must-add when he returns, and he is probably worth adding now if you have a bench spot to spare.
John Henson has a chance to return to the court Saturday, as he is traveling with the team and is questionable against the Spurs. Henson and Larry Sanders could have big games against a tired Spurs team that also certainly has to rest Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli Saturday.
David Lee is expected to return next week, barring any setbacks. Lee played only seven minutes before re-aggravating his hamstring injury, so it is far from a slam-dunk that Lee can get to next week without any setbacks. Lee has been replaced in the starting lineup by Draymond Green, but he should have a large role in the offense at least until Andrew Bogut returns from his knee injury. Lee has been dropped in some leagues, and you should pick him up now if he is available.
Andrew Bogut, for his part, is droppable in 12-team leagues. It would difficult to lose his blocks and assists, but if you can replace him with Rudy Gobert or Brandan Wright, you probably should.
Derrick Rose missed two more games this week, which came as a surprise to no one, though it was a bit surprising to see him out with an illness and not a leg injury. The Bulls are off until Monday, which could give Rose time to get back to 100 percent. Aaron Brooks had 35 points and nine assists in the two games Rose missed, and he is usually worth a start when Rose sits.
Taj Gibson did not play Thursday or Friday after injuring his ankle in practice earlier in the week. Gibson was questionable for both games, and should be considered day-to-day going forward. Nikola Mirotic scored a career-high 27 points Friday thanks to 6-6 shooting from beyond the arc, and he remains a decent—if inconsistent—fantasy asset as long as one of the Bulls other bigs are out.
Dwight Howard has a sore shoulder, though he is probable for Saturday. Howard is averaging 22.3 points, 14 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in his three games back, and he obviously has to be in your lineup as long as he is active.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli are questionable Saturday, but it seems extremely unlikely Spurs head coach Gregg Popovitch will play either guy considering they have played 91 and 71 minutes respectively of the Spurs’ back-to-back triple-overtime games. Marco Belinelli has averaged 16 points, 3.7 assists and three rebounds in the three games he has played without Ginobli, and he would be a good bet to have a good game if Ginobli sits.
Chris Bosh is doubtful for Sunday’s game against Boston, which would mark five consecutive games missed with a calf injury. The Heat continue to list Bosh as day-to-day, though Bosh has said he expects to miss at least a couple of weeks altogether. You obviously cannot drop Bosh, and none of Miami’s bench options are playing well enough to warrant fantasy consideration. Luol Deng and Mario Chalmers are available in some shallow leagues, and they need to be 100 percent owned at least until Bosh returns.
Kawhi Leonard missed the last two games after re-injuring his hand Monday. He missed two games with the hand injury the first time, and he should probably be considered day-to-day going forward. Marco Belinelli has averaged X production in the four games Leonard has missed with his hand injury, and he is a nice fantasy play until Leonard returns.
Tony Parker missed his fourth consecutive game Friday with a hamstring injury, and he is doubtful for Saturday. Cory Joseph is averaging 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field this month with Parker mostly out of the lineup. While fantasy players have been understandably slow to add Joseph, he should continue produce with Parker is out.
Carmelo Anthony sat out against the Bulls Thursday to rest his sore knee and ankle. Amar’e Stoudemire was scheduled for a day off Thursday, but he took Anthony’s place in the starting lineup and scored 16 points. Stoudemire is set to get Saturday off with Anthony returning to the lineup. Anthony’s fantasy owners face the very real possibility his knee and ankle injuries will bother him for the rest of the season, but t this point they probably just have to hold on and hope for the best. Anthony’s trade value is about as low as it can get right now.
J.R. Smith will not play Saturday, which will be his sixth game missed with a heel injury. Smith probably will not travel to Toronto for Sunday’s game, which would make Christmas Day his next chance to return. Tim Hardaway Jr. has averaged 18.8 ppg with Smith out, and he is a must-add for any team needing scoring.
Jeff Teague missed Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers due to a hamstring injury he suffered Monday. His injury is not considered serious, though there has been no word if he will play Saturday at Houston. Dennis Schroder started for Teague Wednesday and finished with 10 points and 10 assists. Even though Shelvin Mack led the Hawks with 24 points off the bench, Schroder is the Atlanta point guard you want if Teague misses more time.
The Hawks are one of several teams who could be active in the trade market, though general manager Danny Ferry may be reluctant to shake up the roster significantly considering how well his team has played. Any big changes in personnel could have unintended consequences. Fantasy players should keep a close eye on trades and injuries in case one of their players is negatively affected.