In fantasy basketball, fans join a fantasy basketball league, learn that league's rules, and draft a custom team of real NBA players. Success of a fantasy basketball league team depends on the success of the team's real-life NBA players. InsideHoops.com provides daily fantasy basketball news and notes.

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Wed, March 17 Fantasy Basketball News

In Tuesday's NBA action, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Tyreke Evans, Jason Richardson, Carmelo Anthony, Andrew Bynum, Mike Conley, Kobe Bryant and Troy Murphy had the standout fantasy basketball games... Wilson Chandler (Knicks) may be done for the season. If not, he'll probably be pretty limited.

ESPN reports: Andrew Bynum took the Sacramento Kings for 21 points (9-of-14 field goal shooting), 12 boards and two blocks Tuesday. It was his fourth double-double in eight games in March and the fourth straight game in which he scored at least 18 points. For the month, Bynum is averaging 15.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Interestingly, his minutes and shots per game have remained about the same the past couple of months, but his free throw attempts are at a season high of 5.9 per game.

ESPN reports: Kevin Love returned Tuesday from a two-game absence due to a mid-foot sprain. However, it wasn't pretty, as he failed to knock down any of his seven field goal attempts and finished with just three points.

ESPN reports: The Phoenix Suns got Leandro Barbosa back in the mix Tuesday. While the Suns were busy humiliating the Wolves 152-114, Barbosa tested his injured wrist with 15 minutes of action, scoring seven points with three dimes. He's worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues, but his production has been spotty this season, even when he's been healthy.

Dime reports: Boris Diaw – 7-10 FG (70%), 5-6 FT (83%), 1 3ptm, 20 Pts, 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Blk, 3 TO; He’s put his owners through a good deal of stress this season but has worked himself back into their good graces. If Gerald Wallace sits out any longer, Diaw should continue to see a nice boost in production.

Dime reports: Mike Conley – 6-9 FG (67%), 5-7 FT (71%), 2 3ptm, 19 Pts, 3 Reb, 10 Ast, 5 Stl, 3 TO; This was a nice bounce back from his 6/0/2 performance on Saturday. He’s liable to throw in a clunker or two each week but is having a fine March so far.

Dime reports: Jason Thompson – 5-8 FG (63%), 4-6 FT (67%), 14 Pts, 10 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 1 TO; This was his first double-double since Feb. 17, but Thompson is in a groove right now. His owners might want to consider starting him next week, as the Kings play four times.

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Tue, March 16 Fantasy Basketball News

In Monday's NBA games, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Baron Davis, Aaron Brooks, Pau Gasol, David West, Kevin Martin (Rockets), Darren Collison (Hornets), Carlos Boozer, Luis Scola and Jrue Holiday (76ers) had the standout fantasy basketball games... Holiday put up monster stats while regular main point guard Lou Williams was out. Keep an eye on that.

ESPN reports: But can Toney Douglas actually save your season? Though he saw a brief run of playing time in mid-November, Douglas has been glued to the New York Knicks' bench for the better part of four months. But after putting up 19 garbage-time points in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on March 12, Douglas started the next night, and his 21 points, eight assists and four 3-pointers led the Knicks to an unlikely thrashing of the Dallas Mavericks.

ESPN reports: It's great to see Shaun Livingston in action again, and after an impressive 18-point, 8-assist outing against the Orlando Magic on March 13, he got the start over Randy Foye. However, Livingston managed just six points in a blowout loss to the Utah Jazz. Still, he figures to get more opportunities, and the Washington Wizards play a ton down the stretch -- starting Tuesday at the Denver Nuggets. Livingston is worth watching.

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Mon, March 15 Fantasy Basketball News

In Sunday's NBA games, Tyreke Evans, Dwyane Wade, Amar'e Stoudemire, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, Stephen Jackson, Chris Bosh and Wes Matthews (Jazz) had the day's best fantasy basketball games... Leandro Barbosa (Suns) should be back in action tomorrow or the next game... Tracy McGrady (Knicks) has admitted that he basically isn't fully healthy. Good chance he'll be limited all season. ESPN reports: Jason Maxiell continues to play well, putting up two double-doubles this weekend. He's averaging 11.2 points and 11.4 rebounds over the past five games. He is a legitimate option if you're looking for boards and field goal percentage. ESPn reports: Brandon Roy scored 28 of the most beautifully efficient points Friday, going 10-for-13 from the floor, 2-for-2 from behind the arc and 6-for-6 from the stripe. That hamstring injury was a serious annoyance, but Roy is back in peak form now, averaging 24 points, five rebounds and four assists over his past five games. ESPN reports: Bill Walker also had a big weekend, scoring 21 on Friday and 23 on Saturday, providing a big spark off the New York Knicks' bench. He's always been brimming with potential but never really got any chance to show what he could do before now, including the ability to drain 3-pointers. He's averaging 1.4 3s per game in March and had seven this weekend. With the ability to contribute in other categories, Walker is a viable fantasy option. Dime reports: Andre Iguodala (3/12) – 12-24 FG (50%), 5-9 FT (565), 1 3ptm, 30 Pts, 7 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 TO; He followed this up with a solid 15/6/9 performance and seems to be digging himself out of the slump he encountered earlier this month. Dime reports: Mike Miller (3/13) – 2-3 FG (67%), 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 2 Stl, 3 TO; Despite starting and playing decent minutes, Miller seems apprehensive to shoot much and is failing to take advantage of a golden opportunity to produce in D.C. If there’s a hot free agent available in your league, it might be time to cut ties with him. Discuss fantasy basketball every day on the InsideHoops fantasy basketball forum.

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Fri, March 12 Fantasy Basketball News

In Thursday's NBA games, Brandon Roy, Andray Blatche, Corey Maggette, JaVale McGee, Jamal Crawford and Vince Carter had standout fantasy basketball games... Definitely keep a close eye on Wizards players in the final stretch.

ESPN reports: Corey Maggette has been dropped in quite a few leagues during the past couple of weeks due to his bum hamstrings, but with 24 points versus the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, he's once again looking like a top-50 player. He added six assists and five rebounds while putting in work from the free throw line (8-of-9), and Maggette now has scored 18-plus points in all four of his games since returning from injury. The fact is, when Maggette is healthy, coach Don Nelson will play him, and he's been quite productive as a small-ball power forward.

ESPN reports: George Hill is quietly developing into a consistent player and looks to be in store for a strong stretch run with Tony Parker (broken hand) out for the rest of the regular season. He is still available in three-fourths of leagues and should continue his strong play against the Minnesota Timberwolves (27th in defensive efficiency) and the Los Angeles Clippers (22nd) this weekend.

ESPN reports: Can you believe Jrue Holiday is shooting nearly 62 percent from the land of plenty in March? Toss in 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and he looks like a solid option versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

Dime reports: Kirk Hinrich is undervalued by most, but he usually gives his owners solid all-around numbers week in and week out. With the prospect of Derrick Rose sitting out a game or two and possibly playing the rest of the season a bit nicked up, Hinrich’s value seems set to remain steady, if not rise a little for the last few weeks of the season.

Dime reports: Trevor Ariza’s first game back from a hip injury was decent, but nothing eye-catching. The Rockets have a strong fantasy playoff schedule, so owners should do their best to nab him before he starts putting up bigger lines.

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Thu, March 11 Fantasy Basketball News

In Wednesday's NBA games, David West, Dwyane Wade, Rasual Butler (Clippers), Beno Udrih (Kings), Manu Ginobili, Rudy Gay, Jason Kidd, Gerald Wallace, Tyreke Evans and Kevin Durant had the day's best fantasy basketball games.

ESPN reports: New Jersey Nets rookie Terrence Williams may have been a bit of a disappointment to this point in the season, but he's been playing extremely well of late. Averaging 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in his past five contests, Williams has been one of the best all-around players in the league for the past week, especially considering he's putting up those numbers in just less than 30 minutes per game.

ESPN reports: Jason Maxiell is getting a lot more minutes of late for the Detroit Pistons with Ben Wallace missing time, and he's showing he can at least fill Wallace's void as a rebounder, if not a shot-blocker.

ESPN reports: After having a few productive games in a row (from a fantasy perspective), Washington Wizards big man JaVale McGee had a terrible game on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, finishing with just four points, seven rebounds and no blocked shots.

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Tue, March 9 Fantasy Basketball News

In Monday's NBA games, Al Jefferson, Manu Ginobili, David West, Shawn Marion, Anthony Morrow, Reggie Williams (Warriors), Courtney Lee, Darren Collison, Emaka Okafor and Josh Smith had standout fantasy basketball games... You should obviously sign George Hill (Spurs) immediately -- hopefully you did that the second it was announced Tony Parker would be out around six weeks.

Dime reports: Manu Ginobili torched the Cavs with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers, nailing 7 threes in the process. He shot 52 percent (12-23) from the field and 100 percent (7-7) from the line and is poised to be huge for the Spurs (and his fantasy owners) down the final stretch of the season.

Dime reports: George Hill – 8-13 FG (62%), 5-8 FT (63%), 2 3ptm, 23 Pts, 3 Reb, 4 Ast; Along with Manu, Hill will see a nice boost in production with Tony Parker likely done for the regular season.

Dime reports: Danilo Gallinari – 9-14 FG (64%), 5-6 FT (83%), 4 3ptm, 27 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 TO; T-Mac sat this one out, which makes you wonder if he’s Gallo’s kryptonite.

ESPN reports: On the Warriors' side, a sizzling Anthony Morrow made all six of his 3-point attempts and finished 11-of-13 overall from the field. Recent D-League call-up Reggie Williams matched Morrow's 28 points, and yes, I'd say he's worth a long look in leagues of at least 12 teams. Williams was a big-time collegiate scorer at VMI, and he was averaging better than 26 points for Sioux Falls in the Developmental League.

ESPN reports: Kevin Love got no love from Kurt Rambis on Monday. Love played just 12 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks.

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Thu, March 4 Fantasy Basketball News

In Wednesday's NBA games, Amare Stoudemire, LeBron James, David Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Lou WilliamS (76ers), Mike Conley (Grizzlies), Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady (Knicks), Luis Scola (Rockets), Al Harrington, Chris Kaman and Ersan Ilyasova (Bucks) had great fantasy basketball games.

ESPN reports: In his second game back from injury for the Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce had a great game against the Charlotte Bobcats, going for 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the floor in just 26 minutes Wednesday. Most encouraging, he had his 3-point stroke going (4-for-6) against the league's sixth-best 3-point defense and best scoring defense.

ESPN reports: For the Bobcats, Tyrus Thomas continued his stellar play with his second straight double-double. Considering the damage he's doing blocking shots and getting steals, he's definitely a nightly play in all formats.

ESPN reports: With Shaquille O'Neal out of the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup for a while and Zydrunas Ilgauskas still waiting for the 30 days since he was traded to wind down, J.J. Hickson is a great fantasy play right now in Cleveland. In the past two games, he's averaging 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds, and he'll continue to be productive until the rotation gets back to normal.

Dime reports: Lou Williams – 11-15 FG (73%), 7-10 FT (70%), 1 3ptm, 30 Pts, 3 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO; No A.I. means good times for Williams. He should finish the season just as strongly as he started it.

Dime reports: Marcus Thornton – 8-16 FG (50%), 5-5 FT (100%), 3 3ptm, 24 Pts, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 3 TO; A lot of people were slow to trust him, but Thornton should be strong through the end of the season, even when CP3 returns.

Dime reports: Channing Frye – 8-12 FG (67%), 7 3ptm, 23 Pts, 1 Reb, 1 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 TO; Frye was sizzling last night and is on a nice five-game streak, but he’s proven to be too unreliable for most starting lineups.

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Mon, March 1 Fantasy Basketball News

In Sunday's action, Andray Blatche (Wizards), Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, John Salmons (Bucks), Darren Collison (Hornets), Josh Smith, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, Lamar Odom, Yi Jianlian and Manu Ginobili had standout fantasy basketball games... Collison is looking like a star for New Orleans, and while no one is going to forget injured Chris Paul anytime soon, some are wondering if CP3 could be on the move in the future... Shaquille O'Neal (Cavaliers) may be out 6-8 weeks with his thumb injury. Also, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is still expected to re-sign with the Cavs in the coming weeks.

ESPN reports: DeJuan Blair has already had an impressive rookie season and once again makes the San Antonio Spurs look like the masters of the non-lottery pick. The news came out this weekend that Tim Duncan will sit the second game of back-to-backs for the remainder of the season in order to remain fresh for the playoffs, which means these dates should be money for Blair: March 1, 6, 13, 17, 22, 29, April 7 and 10.

ESPN reports: Chase Budinger's streak of six consecutive games scoring in double digits was snapped Friday night, as he posted just two points in 29 minutes off the bench. He bounced back Saturday with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a 3-pointer in 39 minutes in the starting lineup for Shane Battier, who sat with flu-like symptoms. Budinger is a solid source of points, 3s and steals who has shown improvement as the season has progressed, and now he's surfaced as a deep-league option down the stretch.

ESPN reports: Darko Milicic is getting significant run with the Timberwolves, averaging 5.0 boards and 2.2 blocks in 20.4 minutes in his past five contests.

Dime reports: Al Harrington (2/26) – 12-21 FG (57%), 8-12 FT (67%), 5 3ptm, 37 Pts, 7 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Stl, 3 TO; He followed this up with a game of 31 points on 6 threes. Harrington has a habit of fading away following a string of strong showings, so try to sell high if you can.

Dime reports: Spencer Hawes (2/26) – 7-13 FG (54%), 1 3ptm, 15 Pts, 12 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Blk, 1 TO; His stint coach Paul Westphal’s doghouse seems to be over, and with Jason Thompson out a while, Hawes could turn things around for the next few weeks.

Dime reports: Richard Jefferson (2/28) – 7-11 FG (64%), 4-5 FT (80%), 2 3ptm, 20 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast, 1 Blk, 1 TO; He seems much more comfortable coming off the bench, which is good news for his fantasy value.

Dime reports: Serge Ibaka – had a nice weekend, usually good for blocks... George Hill – struggled Sunday, but has proven his worth even with Tony Parker in the lineup... Marcus Thornton – it’s inexcusable for any league that still has him on its waiver wire.

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Thu., Feb. 25 Fantasy Basketball News

In Wednesday's games, Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard, Luol Deng, Josh Smith, Andrew Bogut, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Gerald Wallace, Tim Duncan and Andre Miller had good fantasy basketball games.

ESPN reports: Despite the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets guard Marcus Thornton has been great of late. He followed up a 37-point explosion in Cleveland with a 25-point performance in Milwaukee, and he's not just scoring. He's getting to the line, racking up steals and making plenty of 3-pointers, too. Thornton seems to have reclaimed the bulk of the shooting guard minutes in New Orleans, at least in the short term, and needs to be in fantasy lineups until something changes.

ESPN reports: New Washington Wizard Al Thornton still won't provide you with anything besides scoring, but if you're desperate it's worth noting that Thornton is averaging 16 points per game on better than 50 percent shooting from the floor in four games with his new team, after scoring 16 on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

ESPN reports: John Salmons should be in your lineup every night now that he's getting huge minutes for the Bucks, but it's worth noting that he has torched the Pacers (his Thursday night opponent) for 19 points per game on 67 percent shooting from the floor in two games so far this season.

Dime reports: Mike Miller – 3-6 FG (50%), 6 Pts, 3 Reb, 7 Ast, 4 TO; He’s in a great position to put up big numbers in Washington, but Miller seems determined to stay in the background. Think about moving, or even dropping him if he keeps this up into the weekend.

Dime reports: Jameer Nelson – 7-15 FG (47%), 3 3ptm, 17 Pts, 4 Reb, 9 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 TO; He’s finally showing consistency and though his numbers aren’t huge, his owners have to be pleased with his progress. Still, selling high on him, especially in leagues that have playoffs (Orlando has a dismal schedule in the last weeks of the season), might be a good idea.

Dime reports: James Singleton – 9 Pts, 10 Reb, 2 Ast, 4 Blk; If you need rebounds and blocks on the cheap, Singleton is making it tough to ignore him... Taj Gibson – 14 Pts, 11 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Blk, 1 TO; He’s a rookie with a small name, but don’t let that overshadow his production... T.J. Ford – 14 Pts, 1 3ptm, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 TO; A bit inconsistent but still a decent option in deeper leagues.

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Wed., Feb. 24 Fantasy Basketball News

in Tuesday's games, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Marcus Thornton (Hornets), David Lee, Tyreke Evans, Louis Williams (76ers), Dorell Wright (Heat), Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge and LeBron James had good fantasy basketball games... Marcus Camby (Blazers) hurt his ankle and is day-to-day.

ESPN reports: O.J. Mayo seems a lot more refreshed since the All-Star break. Maybe he just needed a break from the grind, but he topped the 20-point mark Tuesday for the third time in five games since the break. That's a feat he managed to accomplish zero times in the six games leading up to the annual NBA hiatus. During those same six games, Mayo shot below 30 percent three times and 42 percent or worse twice. What about the past five games? Mayo topped 50 percent in each of his 20-point efforts and 43 percent or better in the other two.

ESPN reports: Lou Williams missed a triple-double Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors by just three dimes, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 3-pointers. Williams remains inconsistent -- in his past five games, he's scored 26, 10, 20, 9 and 26 -- but you have to love his upside. And with Allen Iverson possibly out for the remainder of the season, logging big minutes with the ball in his hands shouldn't be a problem. Make sure he isn't sitting on your waiver wire.

ESPN reports: Marcus Thornton exploded Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, hitting 15 of his 22 shots for 37 points, three 3-pointers and two steals in 31 minutes off the bench. It looks like he's over that back injury and has positioned himself to replace the ever-boring Morris Peterson (1-of-5 for two points in 21 minutes) in the New Orleans Hornets' starting lineup soon. If Thornton is healthy and starting, he should knock down a ton of triples.

Dime reports: Mo Williams – 2-9 FG (22%), 1-1 FT (100%), 1 3ptm, 6 Pts, 1 Reb, 8 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 3 TO; Not a bad overall line, but Williams is clearly struggling with his offense since returning from a shoulder injury. Try your best to get him for 80 cents on the dollar.

Dime reports: Grant Hill – 8-11 FG (73%), 3-4 FT (75%), 2 3ptm, 21 Pts, 9 Reb, 3 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk, 5 TO; This was his best game in a while, but his value remains only faintly appealing in most leagues.

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Tuesday, Feb. 23 Fantasy Basketball News

In Monday's games, Gerald Wallace, Andrew Bogut, Joe Johnson, Andray Blatche (Wizards), Boris Diaw (Bobcats), Josh Smith, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Brendan Haywood and Baron Davis had nice fantasy basketball games... Josh Howard (Wizards) is out for the season... Trevor Ariza (Rockets) is banged up and out for several games.

ESPN reports: Tracy McGrady, brought fantasy owners back down to Earth. After a brilliant Knicks debut Saturday, T-Mac managed just 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting Monday. And although he wasn't hitting his shots, McGrady's surgically repaired left knee did take a hit. He banged knees in the first half and ultimately took himself out of the game with the Milwaukee Bucks. McGrady's availability for Tuesday night's tilt with the Boston Celtics is in doubt.

ESPN reports: It didn't take long for Sergio Rodriguez to become the Knicks' starting point guard, but it might be a while before he's a fantasy factor. I'll blame those around him for the fact that he had just one assist in 29 minutes -- Knicks players other than David Lee combined to go 20-for-65 (30.8 percent) from the field. But a whopping eight steals aside, Rodriguez (four points and three turnovers) didn't really distinguish himself.

Dime reports: Brendan Haywood – 3-6 FG (50%), 7-12 FT (58%), 13 Pts, 20 Reb, 3 Blk, 1 TO; Haywood hasn’t missed a beat since joining the Mavs, and with Erick Dampier out a while, he should maintain solid value for the foreseeable future.

Dime reports: Hakim Warrick – 12 Pts, 5 Reb, 1 Stl, 2 Blk, 1 TO; He’s averaging 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks since joining the Bulls... James Singleton – 9 Pts, 12 Reb, 3 Blk, 3 TO; He’s getting a lot more run in D.C. and deserves a look in deeper leagues... Eddie House – 10 Pts, 2 3ptm, 1 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Stl; Owners who are looking for threes should give House a look..

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Monday, Feb. 22 Fantasy Basketball News

In Sunday's games, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, OJ Mayo, Carlos Boozer, Darren Collison (Hornets), Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson had good fantasy basketball games... Allen Iverson (76ers) is still out for personal reasons, but now the team announced he's gone indefinitely, and there are rumors he may not return all season... Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Wizards) is probably being bought out pretty soon, and in a month may wind up back with the Cavaliers... The Cavs will probably start Antawn Jamison soon... Kevin Martin (Rockets) continues to play badly.

ESPN reports: The majority of the attention paid to Tracy McGrady's value leading up to the trade deadline centered on his expiring contract, and many of us forgot about his insane combination of size and athleticism, and the fact that he's only 30 years old, even though he seems 40. He reminded us all on Saturday, when he dropped 26 points with four boards, five assists, one steal and one 3-pointer in a losing effort in his New York Knicks debut. Last season he averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 boards and 5.0 assists, and his career averages are 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He's rusty and a bit out of shape, but T-Mac still has game and should average somewhere in between last season's marks and his career stats.

ESPN reports: The Knicks' box score Saturday had some other key elements, namely the production of two other new Knicks, Eddie House and Sergio Rodriguez. House immediately looked as if he's cracked Mike D'Antoni's short rotation, dropping 24 points and four 3s, and even though he's inconsistent it looks like he'll be getting significantly more run for the Knicks than he did in Boston. Upgrade House due to the trade, as the Knicks' up-tempo scheme is suited for his brand of instant offense. Rodriguez didn't start in his first game, but he played 26 minutes to starter Chris Duhon's 21, and had six assists to Duhon's two. It'll take a bit for Rodriguez to get assimilated, but he is worth a speculative add in all formats, simply because he will have an opportunity to establish himself as a real force in assists, steals and 3s. He'll benefit significantly from playing in D'Antoni's system.

ESPN reports: Wesley Matthews and C.J. Miles are dueling for minutes in Utah after the trade of Ronnie Brewer, and Matthews got the start and outplayed Miles on Sunday. Both have the potential to etch out some value in deep formats, although they will take enough of each other's minutes away to negate their ability to have value in shallower formats.

Dime reports: Tyrus Thomas (2/19) – 3-9 FG (33%), 3-4 FT (75%), 9 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast, 6 Blk, 2 TO; He followed this up with a game of 12/11, a steal and 4 blocks and seems ready to finish the season strong in Charlotte.

Dime reports: John Salmons (2/20) – 5-14 FG (36%), 7-8 FT (88%), 2 3ptm, 19 Pts, 5 Reb, 7 Ast, 2 Stl, 3 TO; He should eventually start for the Bucks and has room to improve. Congratulations if you were patient enough to hold onto him.

Dime reports: Eddie House – was huge on Saturday, might have new life with coach Mike D’Antoni... Taj Gibson – with Thomas out of town, Gibson is set to finish the season with a bang... T.J. Ford – alternating good games with bad ones, but that’s better than nothing.

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Wednesday, Feb. 17 Fantasy Basketball News

In Tuesday's 10 NBA games, Derrick Rose, Shannon Brown, Jason Richardson, Martell Webster, Kevin Love, Deron Williams, Dwyane Wade, David Lee and Paul Millsap were the fantasy basketball player leaders... Brown (Lakers) stepped up as Kobe Bryant was out. Consider it temporary... Luke Walton (Lakers) probably barely playing the rest of the season raises Adam Morrison's value.

ESPN reports: Caron Butler played 31 minutes as a starter and finished the contest with 13 points and six boards. Clearly, he was still finding a rhythm with his new teammates, because he missed 12 of his 16 shots and turned the ball over four times. On the upside, though, Butler added a steal, a block and a 3-pointer. He's going to get plenty of touches and his game should come together well in his new digs, assuming he can actually stay healthy for a change.

Dime reports: Martell Webster made it rain in L.A. last night, pouring in 28 points on 7 threes and adding 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 1 turnover against the Clippers. He shot 69 percent (9-13) from the floor and 100 percent (3-3) from the free throw line. Webster’s value is safer going forward thanks to the Blazers’ trade on Tuesday and he should be owned in most leagues.

Dime reports: Mike Conley – 3-12 FG (25%), 3-4 FT (75%), 1 3ptm, 10 Pts, 1 Reb, 11 Ast, 3 Stl; Believe it or not, this was a career-high in assists for Conley, and his first double-double since Oct. 30. While miracles shouldn’t be expected, this was an encouraging line from him.

Dime reports: Paul Millsap – 8-11 FG (73%), 4-6 FT 67%), 20 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Stl, 2 Blk, 2 TO; He played 33 minutes off the bench, thanks partly to Carlos Boozer’s foul trouble, so this is mostly likely a false alarm. With Boozer virtually a lock to stick around in Utah, it might be a good idea to sell as high as you can on Millsap.

ESPN reports: Meanwhile, the aforementioned Clippers played without new blood Blake and Travis Outlaw, but we got to see what young bigs Craig Smith and DeAndre Jordan could do without having to compete for action with Camby. Smith started and had seven points, six boards and five fouls in 24 minutes, while Jordan came off the pine for 14 points, 11 boards and three blocks in nearly 27 minutes. The two may end up splitting minutes the rest of the season, but both are worth keeping an eye on, especially with Jordan's shot-blocking potential.

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Friday, Feb. 12 Fantasy Basketball News

In Thursday's two NBA games, LeBron James, Nene, Dwight Howard, JJ Hickson, DeJuan Blair and Manu Ginobili had nice fantasy basketball outings... Tony Parker (Spurs) continues to be banged up, as he's been all season.

ESPN reports: One of the bigger stories in the NBA is the change in Jameer Nelson, who has gone from All-Star to flop in the span of a year. In a battle Thursday between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, the East's top two teams, the point guard's poor performance might have cost his team the game. By the numbers, Nelson didn't have an awful game, scoring 13 points and dishing five assists in 32 minutes, but his lack of explosiveness was apparent.

ESPN reports: It took much longer than expected, but Delonte West finally made his return from his broken left ring finger Thursday. He was solid in 23 minutes off the bench, scoring eight points, netting six assists and dropping two 3-pointers while accumulating a plus-10 rating, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him in the starting lineup over Daniel Gibson after the break.

Dime reports: Vince Carter — 5-16 FG (31%), 4-6 FT (67%), 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast, 3 TO; Clearly, it was a good idea to sell high on Carter after his 48-point explosion. Expect muted production from him the rest of the way, as the Magic’s starting lineup seems set to share the offensive load pretty equally.

Dime reports: Carmelo Anthony — 6-17 FG (35%), 5-8 FT (63%), 2 3ptm, 19 Pts, 6 Reb, 3 Ast, 3 Stl, 1 Blk, 4 TO; ‘Melo’s been pretty pedestrian in his two games since returning from an ankle injury, but expect good things from him after the break.

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Thursday, Feb. 11 Fantasy Basketball News

In Wednesday's NBA games, Stephen Curry (!), Pau Gasol, Stephen Jackson, Nazr Mohammed (!), Anthony Morrow (!), Lamar Odom, Steve Blake (!), Andrew Bogut and Anthony Tolliver (!) had good fantasy basketball games... Stephen Curry (Warriors) went nuts with Monta Ellis out, getting 36 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 3 steals (6 turnovers, though). He's obviously capable of big things... Nazr Mohammed (Bobcats) had 21 points and 20 rebounds. Consider it a fluke unless he keeps doing big things. But watch him.

ESPN reports: Nazr Mohammed had another huge night for the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 21 points and 20 rebounds. The way he's playing lately, he's a good bet to continue to see big minutes; he's been far more effective than Tyson Chandler.

ESPN reports: I'd like to think the fact that Ramon Sessions has been regularly outplaying Jonny Flynn lately for the Wolves would mean Sessions would get more minutes going forward, but it just doesn't seem to be playing out that way.

ESPN reports: Peja Stojakovic had yet another great night for the Hornets, torching the Celtics for 20 points, including four 3s. He has been a great source of points, 3s and, surprisingly, steals for a couple of weeks now, and belongs in your lineup until he goes cold.

Dime reports: Lou Williams – 9-13 FG (69%), 6-6 FT (100%), 2 3ptm, 26 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 TO; This was the type of line we were used to seeing from Williams at the start of the season. The only way he’ll find consistency again is if a trade opens up the Sixers roster for him, or if he gets dealt to a team that will give him a starting job.

Dime reports: Boris Diaw – 7-12 FG (58%), 1 3ptm, 15 Pts, 5 Reb, 5 Ast, 3 Blk, 3 TO; Diaw has been mildly productive during his last three games. He’s frustrating to own and tough to trade, but still deserves to be owned in most leagues.

Discuss fantasy basketball every day on the InsideHoops fantasy basketball forum.

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Tuesday, Feb. 9 Fantasy Basketball News

In Monday's NBA games, Vince Carter (48 points), Jason Terry (36 points), Anthony Morrow, Pau Gasol (amazing full stat-line), Peja Stojakovic and Darren Collison stood out as fantasy basketball performers... Monta Ellis (Warriors) sprained his knee, but today it was reported here on InsideHoops.com that the injury is minor and he's basically day-to-day... Kobe Bryant (Lakers) remains day-to-day... Allen Iverson (76ers) is out for about a week and will return around February 16, according to several outlets... Chris Duhon (Knicks) is starting over Nate Robinson tonight.

Dime reports: Josh Howard – 7-12 FG (58%), 10-12 FT (83%), 1 3ptm, 25 Pts, 3 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 TO; This came against the Warriors, so nobody should be jumping on the J-Ho train just yet. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see him pull this out after struggling mightily this entire season.

Dime reports: Manu Ginobili – 7-11 FG (64%), 4-4 FT (100%), 3 3ptm, 21 Pts, 1 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 2 TO; Save for his clunker on Saturday, Manu’s been looking more like himself for the past three weeks. With the Spurs struggling and a tough road schedule for the rest of the way, the Spurs may need as much as they can squeeze from Ginobili.

Dime reports: James Posey – 10 Pts, 1 3ptm, 6 Reb, 1 Stl, 1 TO; Remains a viable pickup in deeper leagues... Drew Gooden – 24 Pts, 10 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 4 TO; He benefited from playing the Warriors and from Erick Dampier’s absence... Anthony Morrow – 33 Pts, 5 3ptm, 11 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl, 3 TO; This came out of nowhere, and if Ellis misses time, Morrow should play heavier minutes.

ESPN reports: Joining Carter in the "of-old" category is Peja Stojakovic. In other words, Peja also looked like his former self Monday, when he dropped 29 points and five 3s on the Magic. The absence of Marcus Thornton is probably contributing to his surge. In three games since the rookie went down, Stojakovic has shot better than 55 percent, with a combined 12 3-pointers. Stojakovic is another plug-in possibility for Wednesday, though the Hornets are hosting the Celtics.

Discuss fantasy basketball every day on the InsideHoops fantasy basketball forum.

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Fantasy Basketball Links: Fantasy basketball forum Weekly game counts Daily game stat leaders NBA depth charts Season stat leaders Daily box scores Fantasy Hoops Player Rankings: Guards | Forwards | Centers OLDER FANTASY ARTICLES: 2005-06: Fantasy Pointers [Fantasy Hoops] The legendary Answerman. [Oct 8, 2005] Fantasy Basketball Sleepers and Busts [Fantasy Hoops] Possible fantasy player sleepers and busts. [Oct 8, 2005] 2004-05: Fantasy Hoops: The Answergrinch [Fantasy] Fantasy basketball analysis of the Vince Carter trade, Jason Terry starting, Baron Davis getting healthy and more. [Dec 22] Fantasy Basketball Guard Rankings [Fantasy] Guards are updated. Centers tonight or tomorrow. [Dec 15] Fantasy: Your Questions [Fantasy Hoops] Answering your fantasy basketball questions. [Dec 9] Fantasy Basketball Forward Rankings [Fantasy] Forwards are updated. Guards and centers tonight or tomorrow. [Dec 6] Fantasy: Handling the Suspensions [Fantasy] Answerman explains how fantasy basketball players should handle the recent suspensions. [Nov 22] Fantasy: Tips and Quips [Fantasy] Fantasy hoops tips, quips and from the romance department, the Girlfriend Test. [Nov 17] Fantasy Basketball: The InBox [Fantasy] Your questions and Answerman's answers. [Nov 14] Fantasy: Early Reactions [Fantasy Basketball] Early observations on the season. [Nov 8] Fantasy Season Prep [Fantasy Basketball] Stuff to keep in mind as you start your fantasy basketball season. [Nov 1] Fantasy Basketball: InBox II [Fantasy Hoops] Your questions get answered. [Oct 25] Fantasy Basketball: The InBox [Fantasy Basketball] Questions and answers. [Oct 18] Fantasy Basketball Advice [Fantasy Hoops] The Answerman names players to avoid and players to grab, with full explanations. [Oct 11] Fantasy Basketball Advice [Fantasy Basketball] The infamous Answerman is back to discuss key players that fit into good, bad and ugly situations. [Sept 27] 2003-04 Fantasy Basketball Articles Fantasy: What we learned [Fantasy Basketball] A look at what we learned about various players over this season from a fantasy perspective, from your host, your hero, the Answerman. [Apr 20] Fantasy Playoffs Help [Fantasy Basketball] Answerman helps you win your league - or at least think you might before cruel reality strikes you. [Mar 30] Fantasy Playoff Tips [Fantasy Basketball] Answerman lays it down. [Mar 15] Fantasy Answers: The Mailbag [Fantasy Basketball] Picking a league, trades, more. [Mar 1] Fantasy Trade Scenarios [Fantasy Basketball] Looking at possible trades you might consider making in your league. [Feb 19] Fantasy Basketball Help [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman reviews players who you may have to get rid of. [Feb 12] Fantasy Basketball Help [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman responds to your em-mailed questions about specific league situations. [Feb 5] Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman look at this season's surprise and disappointing fantasy players, examining each player's situation. [Jan 29] Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman helps a fantasy player with his squad. Read his advice. [Jan 23] Fantasy Basketball: The Inbox [Fantasy Baasketball] Answerman cleans out his inbox. [Jan 13] Fantasy Basketball Resolutions [Fantasy Basketball] New year's resolutions for fantasy basketball players. Helpful reminders on what to do. [Jan 5] Fantasy Basketball: Mailbag [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman opens his mailbag and responds to the madness within. [Dec 15] Fantasy Basketball Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman helps you with your team, giving million-dollar advice for far below half price. [Dec 8] Fantasy: How to Trade [Fantasy Basketball] An advice column on pulling off proper fantasy basketball trades. [Dec 1] Fantasy Answers [Fantasy Basketball] InsideHoops.com's legendary Answerman goes through some reader mail. [Nov 21] Fantasy Basketball Help [Fantasy Basketball] The Answerman looks at a reader's roster and comments on it, flips it, flops it, suggests trades, and maybe does something else. [Nov 11] Fantasy Basketball: Interruption [Fantasy Basketball] The legendary Answerman talks about not being too fooled by stuff that happens in the first week of the NBA regular season. And as usual, some bonus dating advice is included. [Nov 8] Fantasy Basketball Answers [Fantasy Basketball] The legendary Answerman answers questions about drafting a team. Heed the advice. [Nov 3] Your letters [Fantasy basketball] The Answerman responds to mail regarding fantasy basketball and the upcoming season. [Oct 25] Fantasy Basketball: how to draft [Fantasy] The Answerman shares his expert views on drafting players for your fantasy basketball team. [Oct 15] Preparing for fantasy basketball [Fantasy] Here's the opening feature from the Answerman. As an added bonus, you guys out there get dating advice. [Oct 10]