Centers

Shaq already ruled OUT for Friday
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said on Wednesday that veteran center Shaquille O'Neal (strained shoulder) will be sidelined for Friday's game in Indiana. He missed his third consecutive game on Wednesday in Washington and Brown added he might also miss Saturday's contest against Philadelphia.

Analysis: With Anderson Varejao (hip) also sidelined, Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson held down the fort in the middle. Keep Shaq reserved in all daily fantasy leagues until he can officially return and prove his health.


Camby injures back on Wednesday
Los Angeles Clippers big man Marcus Camby suffered a back injury in Wednesday's game at Memphis and he was unable to return. He ended up missing both of his field goal attempts to finish scoreless with two rebounds and two assists in 11 minutes.

Analysis: Camby is considered day to day and he'll be re-evaluated on Thursday. DeAndre Jordan saw a season-high 18 minutes off of the bench in Camby's absence.


Chandler has lower back injury
Charlotte Bobcats C Tyson Chandler was unable to play in the second half of Wednesday's loss at Philadelphia due to a lower back injury. He finished with seven points, four rebounds and an assist in 15 minutes.

Analysis: Chandler is considered day to day. Nazr Mohammed picked up extra minutes, scoring four points and grabbing six rebounds in 10 minutes off of the bench.


Curry shows well in debut
New York Knicks C Eddy Curry (calf) made his season debut on Wednesday night at Indiana, hitting 3-of-4 field goal attempts to finish with 10 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes.

Analysis: Curry worked on his conditioning after suffering a calf injury on the first day of training camp and is finally back. However, he should still be avoided in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues despite his somewhat favorable stat line in Wednesday's win.
 

Flu forces Okur out on Wednesday
Utah Jazz C Mehmet Okur was unable to play in Wednesday's win against the Raptors due to a bout with the flu. Kyrylo Fesenko got the start in Okur's place and he managed just three points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.

Analysis: Okur is considered day to day. It's uncertain if he'll be well enough to go on Thursday night at San Antonio, a place the Jazz have lost 20 consecutive games.


Dampier unable to go vs. Spurs
Dallas Mavericks C/F Erick Dampier (undisclosed illness) was unable to play in his third consecutive game on Wednesday against the Spurs.

Analysis: Damp was hospitalized in Detroit on the team's recent road trip, but coach Rick Carlisle said he was "symptom free" upon re-joining the team in Milwaukee. It's uncertain what is ailing Dampier exactly, but he should be kept reserved in all fantasy leagues until he is well and can return to the court.


No structural damage for Birdman
Denver Nuggets C/F Chris Andersen had an MRI on Wednesday and it was determined he has moderate patellar tendinitis in his right knee, but no structural damage.

Analysis: The Birdman is considered day to day. Reserve him in all deeper fantasy leagues which allow daily moves.


Oberto sidelined by hamstring
Washington Wizards reserve C Fabricio Oberto was unable to play in Wednesday's game against the Cavaliers due to a left hamstring injury.

Analysis: Oberto is considered day to day. When healthy, his fantasy appeal is still negligible.


Forwards

Jamison debuts with a bang
Washington Wizards F Antawn Jamison (shoulder, illness) made his regular season debut on Wednesday night against the Cavaliers and he propelled his team to a much-needed victory. Jamison went for a team-high 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting, including 3-of-7 from behind the arc.

Analysis: Not much rust at all for Jamison, who also grabbed 10 boards to go along with two assists and a steal. He also turned the ball over just two times, so fantasy owners and Wizards fans alike are very pleased with the result.


LeBron hurts wrist in loss
Cleveland Cavaliers F LeBron James suffered a left wrist injury in Wednesday's loss at Washington. He hurt the wrist banging it on the rim during a dunk. He was able to finish the game, ending up with a game-high 34 points and nine assists.

Analysis: LeBron was icing the wrist in the locker room after the game, saying he hit his funny bone, "but it's not funny at all." The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that X-rays were taken and they were negative. LeBron should be a go for Friday's game at Indiana.


Booze grabs 18 boards in victory
Utah Jazz F Carlos Boozer hit 9-of-19 field goal attempts in Wednesday's win against the Raptors, finishing with 22 points while grabbing 18 rebounds and picking up two assists in 39 minutes.

Analysis: Boozer has six double-doubles over his past seven starts, averaging 21.0 ppg and 12.7 rpg during the stretch and that includes a two-board performance on Nov. 11 in Boston when he was in severe foul trouble.


Bosh goes for 32 and 17
Toronto Raptors F Chris Bosh hit 13-of-25 field goals in Wednesday's 104-91 loss at Utah, finishing with a game-high 32 points to go along with 17 rebounds in 37 minutes.

Analysis: That's seven straight double-doubles for Bosh. He is averaging 25.3 ppg and 12.6 rpg during the impressive span.


Rashard Lewis just misses triple-double
Orlando Magic F Rashard Lewis, in just his second game back from a 10-game suspension, finished Wednesday's win against Oklahoma City with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Analysis: Lewis has hummed right along since returning from suspension, looking more in mid-season form than a guy just getting his legs. He is a must-start in all fantasy leagues, especially while he is running hot.


Stephen Jackson good for game-high 26
Charlotte Bobcats swingman Stephen Jackson hit 9-of-21 field goal attempts in Wednesday's 86-84 loss at Philadelphia, finishing with a game-high 26 points in just his second game since being acquired from Golden State on Monday. He also added five assists, five boards and three steals.

Analysis: Coach Larry Brown is already running the offense through S-Jax and he is flourishing with his new team. He remains a must-start in all fantasy leagues even though he is playing with the offensively-challenged 'Cats.


Varejao sits for second straight
Cleveland Cavaliers F/C Anderson Varejao (hip) missed his second consecutive game on Wednesday night at Washington. The Cleveland Plain Dealer adds that Varejao might be able to return for Friday's game against Indiana. "If (Wednesday) was a playoff game, he would play," coach Mike Brown added.

Analysis: It's a most inopportune time for A.V. to be sidelined with Shaquille O'Neal (shoulder) sidelined. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and J.J. Hickson are the beneficiaries of more run as a result.


Turkoglu back on the court
Toronto Raptors F Hedo Turkoglu (hip) returned to the lineup for Wednesday's loss at Utah after missing Tuesday's contest due to a hip ailment. Turkoglu went for 11 points, six boards and four dimes in his return.

Analysis: It appears safe to get Turkoglu back into the active fantasy lineup in all leagues which allow daily transactions if you reserved him as a precaution.


Ilyasova moves into starting five
Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles plugged F Ersan Ilyasova into the starting lineup at power forward on Wednesday night against the Nets and he responded by hitting 4-of-11 field goals to finish with nine points, eight rebounds, one assists and a blocked shot.

Analysis: Ilyasova takes the place of Hakim Warrick, who finished with eight points, six rebounds and four turnovers in 21 minutes off of the bench. Ilyasova is a solid pickup in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams for his double-double potential. He posted 19 points and 12 rebounds in Monday's game against Dallas to earn the starting gig at Warrick's expense.
 

U unable to go against Hawks
Miami Heat PF Udonis Haslem was unable to play in Wednesday's game in Atlanta due to a left shoulder injury. Apparently he injured the shoulder in the weight room about a week ago and he aggravated the injury on Tuesday during a fall against Oklahoma City.

Analysis: Shavlik Randolph saw his first action with the Heat, playing 15 minutes off of the bench and contributing two points, three rebounds and a blocked shot in Haslem's absence. Expect U back on Friday in Toronto.


Marion misses Wednesday's game
Dallas Mavericks F Shawn Marion (sprained left ankle) was unable to play in Wednesday's game against the Spurs due to the ankle injury he suffered on Saturday in Milwaukee.

Analysis: Marion didn't seem too confident after Wednesday's morning shootaround, according to the Dallas Morning News. He'll test it again on Friday before the game against the Kings, but consider him a risky play for the remainder of the week.


Tim Thomas debuts for the Mavs
Dallas Mavericks veteran F Tim Thomas (right knee surgery) was able to make his regular season debut on Wednesday night against the Spurs.

Analysis: At this point of his career, Thomas is only worth a look in the deepest of fantasy leagues. He averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 64 with the Bulls, Clippers and Knicks in 2008-09.


Mbah a Moute nursing sprained foot
Milwaukee Bucks F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was unable to play in Wednesday's game against the Nets due to a sprained left foot.

Analysis: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that he is considered day to day. When healthy, his fantasy appeal is really limited to deeper formats.


Azubuike done for the season
Golden State Warriors F Kelenna Azubuike was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday in Phoenix to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

Analysis: Azubuike was averaging 13.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg in nine games with seven starts. Corey Maggette and Anthony Morrow are likely to see a bump in their minutes and their fantasy appeal increases as a result.


Outlaw out a while
Portland Trail Blazers F Travis Outlaw had surgery on Wednesday to repair a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot and he is expected to be sidelined anywhere from three to five months.

Analysis: That's tough news for Outlaw, who as in the midst of a contract year. It appears Rudy Fernandez now has permanent fantasy appeal, so grab him if he is available in leagues of 12 or more teams.


Pops re-joins the Raptors
The Toronto Raptors claimed F Pops Mensah-Bonsu off waivers from the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Analysis: Mensah-Bonsu was with the Raptors in 2008-09 and is only there to provide depth. Avoid him in all fantasy leagues for now.


Guards

Parker aggravates injury, sidelined
San Antonio Spurs G Tony Parker (ankle) did not play in Wednesday's game in Dallas due to his sprained left ankle. He was able to return on Saturday against Oklahoma City, but coach Gregg Popovich said he suffered the setback during the game and he had not practiced since.

Analysis: The last report we got from the San Antonio Express-News was Parker saying that he felt good after Saturday's loss. "I was hurting a little bit, especially in the second half, but overall I felt pretty good," Parker said Saturday. There was no indication he'd sit, especially with three full days to rest between games. Sorry fantasy owners, but we can only report what we hear.


Manu pulls up lame on Wednesday
San Antonio Spurs G Manu Ginobili (hamstring) returned from injury to play on Wednesday at Dallas, but suffered a strained groin injury in the first quarter and was unable to return. Ginobili managed two points, two assists and a turnover in just seven minutes.

Analysis: Perhaps Manu was favoring his left hamstring and that caused him to tweak his groin. He'll be re-evaluated on Thursday, but it's certainly bad news for anyone who started him in Fantasy Week 4 (Nov. 16-22) hoping for the best, myself included.


Hughes goes off in rare victory
New York Knicks veteran swingman Larry Hughes had a huge night on Wednesday's win in Indiana, hitting 6-of-14 field goal attempts to finish with 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a blocked shot in 36 minutes off of the bench.

Analysis: Hughes is clearly a fixture in coach Mike D'Antoni's rotation right now and he is a must-start in most fantasy leagues while getting a solid amount of minutes. He is making the most of his opportunity right now, so roll with him until he cools off.


Mo Williams struggles with shot
Cleveland Cavaliers G Mo Williams misfired on 11 of his 13 field goal attempts in Wednesday's loss at Washington, finishing with just six points to go along with six assists and two rebounds.

Analysis: Mo had shot 50 percent or better in his previous five games, so a stinker was likely sooner rather than later. He'll try to get back on track on Friday night in Indiana.


Q-Rich dings up his back
Miami Heat swingman Quentin Richardson suffered a back injury in Wednesday's game at Atlanta and he was unable to return to the game after playing just 21 minutes. He finished with six points, four rebounds and an assist.

Analysis: Richardson is considered day to day at this point. He'll be re-evaluated on Thursday to determine his status for Friday's game in Toronto. Reserve him just to be on the safe side in leagues which permit daily transactions.


Antoine Wright unable to go
Toronto Raptors G Antoine Wright was unable to play in Wednesday's loss at Utah due to a sprained ankle suffered in Tuesday's game in Denver.

Analysis: Wright is considered day to day. He got the start against the Nuggets, but would've been back to a reserve role anyway with Hedo Turkoglu (hip) able to play. Wright's fantasy appeal is limited to larger leagues when healthy.


A.C. questionable for Friday
Denver Nuggets G Anthony Carter is considered questionable for Friday's game at L.A. Clippers due to his strained left hip injury.

Analysis: Carter has been sidelined for two games due to the injury. When healthy, he should only be relied on in deeper fantasy leagues.


Jameer Nelson undergoes arthroscopy
Orlando Magic PG Jameer Nelson will be sidelined four to six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.

Analysis: Nelson was injured in Monday's win against the Bobcats, although he was able to finish the game after originally suffering the injury in the fourth quarter. The loss for Nelson is the gain of Jason Williams. White Chocolate likely will be the team's starting point guard unless they elect to go outside of the organization, perhaps Allen Iverson? Stay tuned.


Livingston has surgery on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder G Shaun Livingston had surgery on Tuesday to remove staples from an earlier procedure on his left knee. He is expected to be sidelined three to four more weeks.

Analysis: Coach Scott Brooks said on Tuesday that everything went well and it was a "minor surgery." Avoid Livingston in all fantasy leagues right now until he can officially return and prove his health. That day might never come with his propensity for injury.

X-rays negative for Kareem Rush
Los Angeles Clippers G Kareem Rush, who left Tuesday's game at New Orleans due to a right knee injury, had X-rays and they were negative. He is awaiting MRI results to determine if he suffered any structural damage.

Analysis: When healthy, Rush is simply a reserve and only worth a look in the deepest of fantasy leagues.
 

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