Greg Oden has been giving owners some reason for encouragement lately.

This week’s column finds many leagues down to four teams still playing in H2H leagues, and the gaps getting irreversibly wider in categories in Roto leagues.  As such (and since this is the second column I’ll have written today), this will be a somewhat abbreviated column.  If there is little of note to report from a team like, oh, say, the Lakers, they will be skipped over.

 

Southwest Division

 

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs rested Jason Kidd Friday night.  Owners of Mavericks players who are entangled in fantasy playoffs will want to watch carefully as the Mavericks may rest others down the stretch. 

 

There is still no definitive return date for Josh Howard, who has now missed 11 straight with an ankle injury.  He has gotten a cortisone shot and has returned to practice in a limited capacity.  Let’s face it, though, if you own Howard, you’ve probably been out of the running for a while. 

 

Houston Rockets

Tracy who?  No, really.

 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizz scored 66 points on Saturday.  Hopefully you didn’t need any of them to do anything for your team in the playoffs.  If you did, you got very little out of them.

 

New Orleans Hornets

Tyson Chandler is set to miss another one-to-two weeks.  He is now wearing a walking boot in an effort to immobilize his left ankle. 

 

San Antonio Spurs

Manu Ginobli finally returned to the Spurs lineup after missing six weeks worth of action.  He logged 28 minutes Sunday, so hopefully for his owners the Ginobli of old will show up on the court this week.  But if his owners are still waiting on him, they’re likely fighting it out in the consolation bracket or for seventh place in their roto league. 

 

 

Northwest Division 

 

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are calling more and more on Chris Andersen.  In his last five, he’s averaging 25.4 MPG which has led to a 11.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.6 BPG run.  He has been productive and has been playing.  There is no reason not to add him if you’ve got a weak link right now.  The Birdman demands you add him.  Can you fight with that logic?     

 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Craig Smith missed Sunday’s game to a calf injury.  He is listed as day-to-day.  This followed a string of four of five games in which Smith scored in double-figures.  Any stretch of longer than another game warrants a dropping until his return, as the fantasy season is coming to an end and every game counts.    

 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Nenad Krstic’s nickname is Curly.  He was voted the 3^rd most eligible bachelor by Serbia’s People magazine.  I find both of these things quite odd.  I think the nickname begs the question, was it his gold they were searching for in City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly’s Gold?

 

Portland Trail Blazers

Greg Oden is starting to log more time off the bench.  This has to be encouraging for Oden owners, who have suffered through a tumultuous season filled with injuries and unfulfilled promise.  Maybe he can be of help to owners that didn’t overpay for upside yet managed to nab Oden in the draft.

 

Utah Jazz

The Jazz have decided to change their name to the Stormin’ Mormons, and Shawn Bradley—the greatest player in the history of the NBA—will serve as the model for their mascot.  Karl Malone sat weeping in his big rig after being passed over for modeling rights, not really grasping the significance of the change.  He then called every playoff bound team, begging for another shot at playing for a title.  Nothing will stop him from shamelessly chasing that elusive ring.

 

 

Pacific Division

 

Golden State Warriors

Well, it looks like Anthony Morrow and Kelenna Azubuike will see their value increase as the season comes to a close.  This comes as the result of Stephen Jackson being shut down for the season to have bone fragments removed from his big left toe.  They are both chasing the three-point crown, so look for a lot of help in the proficient scoring from downtown column (it’s a category, really) from Morrow and Azubuike.

 

Los Angeles Clippers

Baron Davis has missed the past two games with stomach ulcers and a strained calf.  This has opened the door for Mike Taylor to log 34.3 MPG over the past three games.  More importantly, this has meant a 23.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG over the past three, the first of which Davis actually played in.  Davis could return as soon as Wednesday to face the Hornets, and the reliability of Taylor’s value would seem to hinge upon Davis’ absence.  But as Baron Davis owners are well aware, his prompt return is anything but a sure thing. 

 

Los Angeles Lakers

The return of Andrew Bynum is still likely not to happen until just before the Playoffs begin, optimistically.  If his owner dropped him earlier, keep an eye on his progress, as he is running.  You might be able to get a couple games out of him, which could be the difference in a category or two, if things get tight.

 

Phoenix Suns

With Leandro Barbosa sidelined with a tibial tissue bruise, Jared Dudley has stepped up into a role of productivity.  His past three games have seen him averaging 14.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 27.3 MPG.  His value likely last exactly as long as Barbosa is on the mend, but he’s a solid add as long as he’s getting PT.

 

Sacramento Kings

Andres Nocioni returned to action Friday night.  In his two games back, he has scored 14 and 19 in 27 and 32 minutes, respectively.  He chipped in nine rebounds.  It is safe to insert him back into your lineup.  Whether it is safe for him to venture back to Arco Arena after hinting that he might want to be traded in the offseason is another issue entirely.

 

Josh Duggan welcomes your comments at mister.josh.duggan@gmail.com.  If you are going to heave insults in his direction, at least be funny and creative.  He is also the author of a Kansas City Royals blog, Royalscentricity, and a pop culture blog, Inconsiderate Prick.