First, here's a look at how many games each team plays this
week...
Two games: Golden State, New Jersey, Charlotte
Three games: Boston, Philadelphia, Indiana, Milwaukee, New
Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, Denver
Four games: Toronto, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix,
Sacramento, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Dallas, Memphis, Orlando, Minnesota,
Portland, Seattle, Utah
Start 'Em
Jamal Crawford, PG/SG, New York Knicks
Crawford has been red hot lately. Last week he averaged 26
points, three rebounds and five assists, and almost four 3-pointers per game.
This week the Knicks have four games, all at Madison Square Garden, where
Crawford should continue to light it up.
Jose Calderon, PG, Toronto Raptors
The guy is playing unreal. It's really not just about his
scoring, 13 per, or his assists, 8.9 per, but it's his percentages that make
him a must start, especially when the Raptors are playing four games this week.
He is shooting 55-percent from the floor, 48-percent from behind the arc and
92-percent from the free-throw line. Basically, there isn't a place on the
court where this guy can't make an impact - unless you don't start him. So
start 'em!
Rasheed Wallace, PF/C, Detroit Pistons
Wallace is a streaky player and right now he's on a
up-swing. It's hard to say whether it was being asked to play in the All-Star
game (where he made a 3-pointer left handed) but something has gotten into the
guy. Last week his scoring was way up as he has continued to shoot the 3-ball
effectively in each game. In fact, his 3-point shooting is getting better and
he's taking more shots. Ride him out.
Sit 'Em
Marcus Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets
It's no secret that Williams' value rose significantly after
Jason Kidd was traded to the Dallas Mavericks last week. Now the starting point
guard for the Nets, Williams has finally been given the chance to show what
he's got - at least until Devin Harris returns. But the Nets only have two
games this week, so Williams, who hopefully is not your first option, should
not see the starting lineup. Not to mention that he played just 25 minutes
Friday and scored only five points on 2-of-4 shooting.
Caron Butler, SG/SF, Washington Wizards
If you have Butler, you are hurting just as bad as he is. He
has missed a number of games this year with his hip injury, and while
Washington has three games this week, the fact that he did not play Friday
means that you just cannot start him come Sunday. If you do, you stand the very
real chance that you will get zero production from his starting spot. There's
no doubt that Butler deserved to be an All-Star this season and there's no
doubt that he's a must-start when he's healthy, but until he plays a full week
in the starting lineup, he's not worth the risk.
Andris Biedrins, PF/C, Golden State
Biedrins has figured out a way to be a very effective player
in the NBA - considering he absolutely cannot shoot. But since Chris Webber
joined the Warriors, Biedrins place in the starting lineup and his minutes have
begun to vanish. Sometimes he'll start, like against Boston, and score 21
points and grab 13 rebounds (a great night) and sometimes he'll come off the
bench, like against Utah, and get four and six. He's just too inconsistent of a
player (or coach Don Nelson is an inconsistent coach) to play him in a weekly
league.