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Fantasy Basketball Daily Grumblings: March 19, 2008
Fantasy Basketball Daily Grumblings: March 19, 2008
By Fantasy Forecaster | Published  03/19/2008 | Fantasy Basketball Daily Grumblings
Fantasy Forecaster
FANTASY SPORTS SERVICES INC. is a sports editorial, statistical information and fantasy games company that specializes in interactive content and games for sports fans.  

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Bosh returns for the Raps...

Chris Bosh - Fantasy Basketball

Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Bosh returns for the Raps; Harris out with another ankle injury; Marion makes it back for Miami; Bynum gone for the regular sked; Udrih sits out; Haslem may be gone for the season; and more...

BEEN MISSING BOSH 
At 2-8 so far in March, the Toronto Raptors are obviously excited about the expected Wednesday return of Chris Bosh. Yet one Raptor should feel especially fortunate: Jose Calderon.
With Bosh inactive since the end of February, Calderon lost his favorite assist target. But he also found himself asked to carry an unusual amount of the offensive load for the small-ball Raps and opponents have keyed on the Spanish Fly accordingly. In March, Calderon as seen his turnovers rise and his shooting percentage fall. Meanwhile, the recent return of oft-injured point-man T.J. Ford to the lineup has cut into Calderon's court time, and has in turn cut into his point and assist totals, with Calderon's minutes falling from nearly 32 a game before the All-star break to just over 28 in March.

But Bosh's return should open up the middle for the Spanish Fly on his drives to the basket, while also providing an excellent target to help him rack up assists. As the Raptors take on the woeful Heat on Wednesday, can Bosh help Calderon jump-start his underrated game?


DEVIN OUT AGAIN 
Devin Harris sprained his ankle during in the second quarter of the Nets 112-96 loss to Chicago on Tuesday night, and did not play at all in the second half. INTEL: Harris had seemed to be coming on in New Jersey, with back-to-back 19 point efforts. He has had significant problems with his ankles this season, so the Nets are likely to be cautious in getting him back on the court. Talented backup Marcus Williams, who had 16 points and three helpers in the game, can be expected to start for New Jersey as long as Harris is out, and Vince Carter might also see a little more involvement distributing the rock for the Nets going forward.


SHAWN BACK ON COURT 
Returning from a two-game absence caused by a sore back, on Tuesday Heat forward Shawn Marion played 28 minutes in a rare Miami win on, 112-106 at Milwaukee. He finished the evening with only eight points but snagged 12 boards. INTEL: Marion is an elite producer (except in the assists category) as long as his back holds up. With a recent MRI reportedly revealing Udonis Haslem will require surgery for bone spurs on his foot and ankle, Marion may be required to play even more minutes than usual. In March he has regularly been over 40 most games, which may contribute to his back woes.


BYE BYE BYNUM . . . 'TIL THE PLAYOFFS 
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Tuesday they are not expecting center Andrew Bynum to return until the first round of the playoffs. INTEL: Bynum was in the midst of a breakthrough year until his injury, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds and blocking over two shots per game. While he may not be much of a factor again this year, the addition of Pau Gasol to the Lakers frontcourt should only free Bynum up further next season. It isn't unreasonable to picture the 20 year old in several All-Star games over the next decade or so.


BEN-OH! UDRIH SITS OUT 
After straining his back Sunday night against Toronto, Kings point guard Beno Udrih sat out Tuesday as Sacto took on the Golden State Warriors. INTEL: Tough luck for Udrih, especially if he misses any significant amount of time. Since he entered the starting lineup following the trade of Mike Bibby, Beno has been an absolute revelation, averaging nearly 16 points and just over six assists per game. His replacement Tuesday was journeyman Anthony Johnson, who can be expected to provide workmanlike numbers as long as he's in the starting lineup.


HE SAID WHAT? 
In eyebrow-raising comments Tuesday, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press Tuesday that he believes Kevin Garnett "tanked it" last season. INTEL: Unfortunately Garnett's Boston Celtics have no games remaining with Minnesota this year, so he'll have to wait until next season to serve Taylor some humble pie. Taylor was reportedly responding to a local columnist who suggested the Timberwolves tanked it last season, so it's fairly clear that Taylor is trying to stick up for his current team than anything. It has the look of sour grapes, and the only upshot for Boston fans is that it may motivate Garnett to raise his game to an even higher level than he already has this season.


ELTON STILL WANTS TO PLAY 
While he has not set an official return date, Elton Brand reiterated to the Orange County Register reecntly that he would like to play in a few Clippers games before the season ends. INTEL: Brand has missed the entire season so far with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Clippers fans would probably like to see their star on the court, however briefly, though it would be unwise to expect major minutes or numbers from Brand if he does indeed return.


MAX FACTOR 
Detroit power forward Jason Maxiell matched a season high with 18 points Tuesday night in the Pistons' 136-120 victory over the Nuggets. He also added seven rebounds in a team high 32 minutes. INTEL: As much as anything else, this serves as proof that anyone can score on Denver. While Maxiell has been a solid bench player for Detroit this season (especially on the defensive end) games like this are all too often balanced out by contests such as his zero point, two rebound effort against Sacramento last week. Still, his center eligibility makes Maxiell a valuable long-term prospect and he has the talent to be a star if he could just get the playing time (which won't happen soon in Motown).


BONJOUR JOEL? 
With the injuries piling up in Miami, big-man Joel Anthony has been logging increased minutes in the Heat's last three games, including Tuesday's contest. INTEL: A veteran D-Leaguer, Anthony had been used sparingly by the Heat this season. He hadn't registered a point through the first four months, until suddenly getting 38 minutes of action last week vs. Orlando. With Udonis Haslem's season likely over and a right knee injury forcing Alexander Johnson to sit out Tuesday's game, it will be interesting to see if coach Pat Riley keeps giving the Canadian this kind of playing time. He is a raw but but intriguing prospect who might be worth watching for next season.




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