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Sports Grumblings -
http://www.sportsgrumblings.com/basketball/articles
Where the West is Best: Apr. 7
http://www.sportsgrumblings.com/basketball/articles/articles/588/1/Where-the-West-is-Best-Apr-7/Page1.html
Josh Duggan
 Utterly unemployable as a English major, Josh had nowhere to turn but the not-so-fantasy-world of fantasy sports. Putting down the books that damned him to a lifetime of menial jobs, he set forth on a voyage that would take him through the crests and troughs--the surprises and letdowns--the failures and successes that at once madden and excite us all. So obsessed did he become that he decided to shun the fickle mistress fantasy football for the games which allowed for his drive and determination to beat his opponents into bloody pulps. For him there were more successes than failures, though, and that is where you and he shall meet. By Josh Duggan
Published on 04/7/2009 |
 Manu Ginobli will sit out the rest of the season. |
Well,
folks, I have torn myself away from my passion project—the musicalization of
Sir Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene set
against the radical backdrop of Harlem during the 1970s while incorporating
“Across 110th Street” as a recurring musical motif and electing to
glorify Pam Grier circa 1976 rather than Queen Elizabeth I—to write this final
entry of Where the West Is Best, wherein I give you the key by which you win
your league and the ensuing billions of dollars that go to the winner of your
league. Or not.
(As
was the case last week) if there is little to report coming from one of these
teams, there will be little reported, as there are fewer of you who need this
column than usual. Yeah, I’m
discriminating against all of you losers.
If you wanted to still have me write to you, well, you can go see my
musical when it blows up.
Southwest Division
Josh Howard is simply going to
have to be monitored on a day-to-day basis, as he missed action Friday night after
having played two straight upon returning from an 11-game absence. He played Sunday, though.
Chuck Hayes has grabbed ten
rebounds in two of his past four games.
Unfortunately, in the other two games, he corralled a total of three in
15 minutes of play. It is a risk to be
sure, but he could help if you find yourself in a tight rebounding race.
Not
that it really matters for your fantasy team, but the Grizzlies have won four
straight. Weird.
James Posey is still expected to
miss the next three Hornets games, but Peja
Stojakovic has returned after a 15-game absence. This means Julian Wright’s brief spike in value can be expected to take an
immediate hit.
Tyson Chandler is no longer using
the walking boot and may make a return before the playoffs commence.
Closing
out what can only be deemed a complete and utter disappointment of a season, Manu Ginobli has shut it down for the
rest of this season after the condition of his right ankle that has plagued him
all season worsened. This compounds the
issues that
Northwest
Division
Kenyon Martin is taking his time
coming back from a left rib strain.
Owners feign outrage at the once relevant fantasy option. As long as K-Mart sits, Renaldo Balkman gets more playing time.
Don’t
look now, but Shelden Williams (yes,
that Shelden Williams) has not just
managed to get into back-to-back games, but he has scored double-digits in two
straight. Sunday saw him put up a
double-double. His increased playing
time may only be the result of Craig
Smith being out with a strained calf and Kevin Love missing action with flu like symptoms, but these are
dire straits, dude, and Williams is your love-struck Romeo, Juliet. Go get him, sweetheart.
The
underwhelming play of the Thunder has led Sen. John Cornyn (R – Tex) to
introduce a bill urging for
Portland Trail
Blazers
The
youths of Portland have gathered with tear-stained cheeks to throw their Greg Oden into a pile next to an
awaiting manure truck.
Jerry
Sloan is considering moving Carlos
Boozer to the bench in favor of Paul
Millsap. Millsap has been playing
more fluidly than Boozer, and doesn’t have the knock against him of having gone
to Duke. Boozer, the consummate
team-first player, stated that he absolutely wanted to start, even after having
stunk up the joint in losses at
Pacific Division
Corey Maggette is sitting with post
concussion syndrome. Monta Ellis has missed two straight
with a sore left ankle. Marco Belinelli has now missed 11
straight with a right ankle injury. Andris Biedrins may not return this
season. Stephen Jackson is out for the season.
All
of this means you can finally feel safe about relying on guys like Kelenna Azubuike (30 points and 15
boards Sunday), Anthony Randolph (double-digit
rebounds in five straight games), and
Anthony Morrow (19.0 PPG and 19
threes made in his past six games).
Marcus Camby looks to be done for
the season. Feel free to drop him
anytime.
Zach Randolph was arrested for
drunken driving.
Brian Skinner will be getting quite
a bit of playing time.
Good
stuff…
Andrew Bynum could return as early
as Thursday. Having been out since
January 31st, Bynum is available in nearly half of Yahoo! leagues
and one-third of ESPN leagues. Even in a
limited role, he could be a difference-maker if you’re in need of some quick
blocks or rebounds.
Leandro Barbosa has now played in
two straight games. Owners tentatively
insert him into their lineups waiting for the Suns guard to screw them with
another injury upon having been reinserted into their lineup.
The
Kings have six remaining games. Bum rush
all available Kings if you’ve got some ground to make up. It can’t hurt.
Oh,
and by all available Kings, I mean the ones who actually play. Andres
Nocioni, Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, Francisco Garcia, Beno Udrih, Donte
Green, Bobby Jackson, and *gulp* even Rashad
McCants. I guess…
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
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