Charles Barkley, Micheal Strahan and Steve Urkel Walk Into a Bar...

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but some simply amazing details are starting to pour in about Sir Charles Barkley's DUI arrest early Wednesday. There were about five different parts to this story that are bizarre at times and hilarious at others.

1) Barkley told cops he ran the stop sign because he was going to get oral sex from a woman who had previously serviced him the week before as well. That wasn't even Sir Charles' best part of the excuse, he then followed up with including it was the best oral sex he had ever had.

This comment alone will cause dozens of college students to ditch Cancun for Scottsdale, Arizona

2) Barkley told a civilian employee at the police station, "I'll tattoo your name on my ass" if he could help him get out of the DUI charges. Charles should know better than to make an offer like that to a civilian employee. That's something you offer to a Sargent or the ranking officer at the time of incarceration.

3) This pictureGood lord. Can someone get Charles a cold glass of water and hanky to wipe his face off?!?! He's sweating more than Patrick Ewing in a double overtime game.

4) He was out with Jaleel White. Don't know who that is? T.V.'S STEVEN URKEL!! Barkley's crew certainly does not run as deep as is used to I guess. I wonder what other Afro-American sitcom stars Barkley roles with? Perhaps Rerun from "What's Happening?," Theo from "The Cosby Show," or the Guy on the Fire Escape from "Martin" have all been apart of Sir Barkley's pose at some point.

5) Police found a gun in his car and didn't press charges. It isn't clear if the gun was licensed or not, because finding a gun isn't even worth investigating in Arizona. Nevermind the gun was found in the car of a man who was intoxicated, wouldn't one want to look into this further? If this was New York he would have spent the night in Riker's, with the looming penalty of a 3.5year prison sentence haunting him.

The fact that former N.Y. Giant Micheal Strahan was also at the bar with Barkley that night was only a coincodence. However, I do think it important for people to now recognize that we are seeing a trend emerging with N.Y. Giants and club frequenting that generally end with someone wearing handcuffs. Now I am not saying to be like Pac Man Jones scared if you see a N.Y Football Giant at a bar, just be weary and take note and watch your back.

FSE NBA Playoff Predictions

With the NBA regular season over and fantasy basketball champions crowned, it is now playoff time people! The anticipation surrounding this year's postseason is unlike anything I can remember in the past 15 years and rightfully so. The west is wide open, loaded with good teams top to bottom and great 1st round matchups while the east has arguably the league's finest squad in the Boston Celtics and that Lebron fellow lurking.

Without further ado, here are one man's playoff predictions. Warning: these predictions were fueled heavily by my love of Steve Nash and the way he plays the point guard position and may burst into flames after the first round...

Eastern Conference

First Round

Boston over Atlanta (4-0)

Cleveland over Washington (4-2)

Orlando over Toronto (4-2)

Detroit over Philadelphia (4-1)

Semifinals

Boston over Cleveland (4-1)

Detroit over Orlando (4-2)

Eastern Conference Finals

Boston over Detroit (4-2)

Western Conference

First Round

Los Angeles over Denver (4-2)

Utah over Houston (4-2)

Phoenix over San Antonio (4-2)

New Orleans over Dallas (4-3)

Semifinals

Utah over Los Angeles (4-2)

Phoenix over New Orleans (4-3)

Western Conference Finals

Phoenix over Utah (4-3)

NBA Finals

Phoenix over Boston (4-3)

Your 2008 NBA Champs - Phoenix Suns

Disagree with these picks? Shoot us an email or comment with your NBA Playoff predictions! 

Jermaine O'Neal Returns, Chris Kaman Finished

On a night when Jermaine O'Neal owners finally welcomed back their fallen center after a two month absence, Chris Kaman saw his season come to an abrupt an end. With 26 seconds left in the 1st quarter of Monday's game against Dallas, Kaman sprained his right ankle and did not return. He was later seen leaving the arena on crutches.

Fantasy Impact

Chris Kaman

Kaman returned ahead of schedule last week and has been a solid fantasy playoff producer averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds over his last 3 games. With only 8 games left, I wouldn't expect to see the Clippers' big man back on the court again this season. With Kaman done and Brand still out, Josh Powell once again will start at center for the Clips. He is a good source of rebounds and can put up point totals in the low teens.

Jermaine O'Neal

O'Neal only played 17 minutes in his first game back in over 2 months putting up 9 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block. O'Neal should see his playing time increase with every passing game and should eventually see 25-30 minutes a night if he proves healthy. At this juncture of the season with the waiver wire more or less barren, JO is an excellent source of rebounds and blocks and has the ability to put up 15-20 points on any given night. Grab him if he's available. 

Fantasy Basketball Playoff Adds & Hired Guns - Semifinal Week

If you are reading this, that means you survived quarterfinal week or were fortunate enough to have earned a first round bye. The pickings are getting mighty slim at this juncture and the viable fantasy options on the waiver wire are few and far between among the frenzy of lineup shuffling that you are undoubtedly seeing on a nightly basis in leagues that allow daily lineup changes.

Building upon the initial edition of Playoff Adds & Hired Guns posted Friday and our Playoff Cram Session article, here are some players that can help you this week as you battle for the right to play for a championship.

Adds

Joakim Noah - Games This Week: 3 - Tuesday Boston, Thursday At Cleveland and Saturday Washington 

For every bad game, Noah has 3-4 solid games and one breakout performance that shows his true potential like his 18 points 15 rebound effort on Saturday night against Milwaukee. If he is still floating around your waiver wire grab him and hold on to him. He will be a good source of rebounds, puts up decent defensive statistics and can score in the mid teens which is an added bonus.

Michael Finley - Games This Week: 3 - Tuesday Golden State, Friday At Utah and Sunday At Portland

In the spirit of Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley is experiencing a mini renaissance. He is coming off a solid week averaging around 19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 three pointers a game over his last four. On Sunday, Finley had one of his better games of the season pouring home 22 points to go along with 6 rebounds. He is seeing around 25-30 minutes a night lately and can be a solid contributor in points and three pointers while helping out in rebounds. 

Nate Robinson - Games This Week: 4 - Tuesday At Milwaukee, Wednesday At Memphis, Friday At New Orleans and Sunday Orlando

Nate returned to action Sunday after missing the last four games with a sprained right knee. In only 18 minutes, Nate put up 12 points and 3 assists, picking up where he left off before being sidelined. It appears the Knicks will choose to play him the rest of the way if he is healthy, making him a steal off the waiver wire at this juncture. Nate can score points in bunches and contribute across the board in three pointers, assists, steals and to a lesser extent rebounds.

Also keep notice that the Knicks are among the few teams that play 4 games this week adding to Robinson's immediate value.

Hired Guns

Leon Powe - Games This Week: 3 - Tuesday At Chicago, Wednesday Indiana and Saturday At Charlotte

With the season winding down and the Celtics all but a lock for the #1 seed in the East, Powe is slowly starting to see increased playing time in frontcourt as the Celtics begin to look towards the playoffs. The big man is a good source of rebounds and can put up point total in the low to mid teens when given 25 minutes a night which seems very feasible going forward. He is a decent start in any of the Celtics 3 games this week.

Brevin Knight - Games This Week: 4 - Monday Dallas, Wednesday At Seattle, Thursday At Sacramento and Sunday Houston.

Knight is always being added and dropped and there is a good chance he is available in your league right now. Knight isn't much of a scorer; however, if you are looking for assists he on the better guys to roll the dice on. In his last game against Memphis Saturday, Knight had 11 assists to go along with 14 points showing fantasy owners that he can be a good play given the right matchup. He is a good play on Wednesday and Thursday this week in road games versus the Sonics and Kings. Grab him Tuesday and milk out two starts.

Quentin Richardson - Games This Week: 4 - Tuesday At Milwaukee, Wednesday At Memphis, Friday At New Orleans and Sunday Orlando

Q is far from a sexy option; however, he is seeing ample playing time (46 minutes in his return Friday night and 30 minutes Sunday) and has the ability to help across multiple categories. Friday night he had a great game putting up 20 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 three pointers. Although I don't trust Q on a regular basis, he can have great fantasy upside against poor defensive clubs. I recommend using him on Tuesday At Milwaukee and Wednesday At Memphis.

Francisco Garcia - Games This Week: 4 - Tuesday Houston, Thursday LA Clippers, Saturday At Denver, Sunday LA Lakers

Garcia has been very up and down this season due to inconsistent playing time. Over his last 4 games he has seen between 27-30 minutes and is averaging around 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 three pointers a game. Sunday against Seattle Garcia put up 21 points, 5 rebounds and 2 three pointers in 29 minutes of play. If he continues to see 27+ minutes a night, Garcia can be a solid regular contributor down the stretch. He is a good play against the Clippers Thursday and At Denver Saturday.

Fantasy Basketball Playoff Adds & Hired Guns – Quarterfinal Weekend

In the spirit of FSE’s comprehensive Fantasy Basketball Playoff Cram Session piece, we introduce the Playoff Adds & Hired Guns series. Every Sunday and Friday the rest of the way, we will highlight the best long-term add options to use during your playoff run as well as some hired guns that can get you key crunch time stats.

Adds

JR Smith – Weekend Game: Saturday, Golden State

This guy absolutely fills it up on the offensive end and can go off for a huge night without notice or even significant playing time. In 21 minutes Monday night, Smith scored 27 points and hit 7 three pointers. Over his last four games he is averaging 16 points a game and has knocked home 11 three pointers. There is a good chance he is already snatched up, but if you can grab this human microwave, by all means do it.

Chris Quinn – Weekend Game: Sunday, At Boston

Amongst Miami’s myriad of NBDL all-stars and castaways, Quinn is seeing big minutes (35+ a night). He can bang threes, put up modest point totals in the low to mid teens and get you a few assists. He may end up being a more consistent option than former fantasy heart throb Daequan Cook.

Martell Webster – Weekend Game: Saturday, Charlotte

We discussed Webster’s excellent late season potential in an earlier piece regarding Brandon Roy’s injury. With Roy now officially out at least 4 games, jump on Webster as he’s been putting up solid point and rebounding numbers and can shoot the lights out behind the three point arc.

Jerry Stackhouse - Weekend Game: Sunday, At Golden State

Stack is enjoying a great week and has given many a fantasy team a huge boost. In his last 4 games he is averaging over 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 three pointers a contest. With Dirk out for at least 2 weeks, Stack will continue to see big minutes and plenty of touches on offense. Grab him immediately if you still can.

Thad Young - Weekend Game: Sunday, At Cleveland

The Sixers surge has been sparked by a variety of factors, not the least of which is the infusion of youth. Rookie Thad Young has been solid contributor for Philly and is playing well at this critical juncture in the season. He is having himself a big quarterfinal week averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds and I think he can offer good value in these two categories down the stretch.

Roll The Dice, Take A Chance

Thabo Sefolosha – Weekend Game: Saturday, Milwaukee

Thabo reintroduced himself to fantasy owners Wednesday night with an excellent all-around performance putting up 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and hitting on 4 three pointers. He continues to be bothered by a groin injury; however, the team insists they will let him play through. If he can consistently get 25+ minutes, you have a guy that can fill up the stat sheet and be a difference maker. For more on Thabo, check out our buddies over at Fantasy Basketball Pros who are also believers.

Daniel Gibson – Weekend Games: Saturday, At Detroit & Sunday, Philadelphia

Boobie has missed over a month with a severe ankle sprain and last saw game action way back on February 20th. He is scheduled to return tomorrow night against Detroit and is an excellent option from behind the arc averaging over 2 three pointers a game this season. If he proves healthy, Gibson can be a difference maker in the three point category, provide point totals in the mid teens and help out in assists and steals. In addition, the Cavs play both Saturday and Sunday.

Jarrett Jack – Weekend Game: Saturday, Charlotte

With Brandon Roy out, Jack should see big minutes at point guard as the Blazers showcase him for a possible offseason trade. He has scored 17 and 19 points respectively over his last two games and can also help your team in the assist and three point department. Our only concern with Jack is that he will lose time and numbers to Steve Blake.

Louis Williams – Weekend Game: Sunday, At Cleveland

Williams’ inconsistency throughout the season has lead to him being added and dropped countless times and leaves a good chance you can add him as we speak. He has been playing well of late and is coming off a 23 point effort Wednesday in which he hit 5 three pointers. Williams can help you in points, three pointers, assists and steals; however, be prepared for a stinker from the youngster every three games or so.

Hired Guns

Jannero Pargo – Weekend Game: Sunday, At Toronto

One of Chris Paul’s favorite wingmen, Pargo can fill it up from three point land, score in bunches and shoot a high percentage from the free throw line.

Sasha Vujacic – Weekend Game: Sunday, Washington

Has come on a bit of late but still does not receive significant minutes on a consistent basis. Despite only getting 17-18 minutes a night, Vujacic is a sniper averaging 1.5 three pointers a game and is a good bet to score in double digits.

Matt Carroll – Weekend Game: Saturday, At Portland

Carroll has seen his minutes drop to the mid twenties of late, landing him back on many a waiver wire. However, over his last 4 games he has scored in double digits three times including two 18 point games and has banged home 7 three pointers. Grab him for an offensive boost.

Erick Dampier – Weekend Game: Sunday, At Golden State

Dampier has been a hot add since Dirk went down but I am not sold on him as a consistent fantasy option. He has a tendency to beat up on bad teams - 19 points, 17 rebounds against the Clippers - and disappear against the good ones – 5 points, 9 rebounds against Denver and 4 points, 6 rebounds against the Spurs. If you are desperate for rebounds and blocks then Dampier is a pretty good fit. Otherwise, play the matchups with this guy.

Brandon Roy Injures Groin - Martell Webster Emerging As A Hot Fantasy Option

Brandon Roy injured his groin last night attempting to block Caron Butler's shot at the end of the first quarter. He returned to the game in the second quarter but was limping noticeably and left for good after two minutes. Blazers' head coach Nate McMillan had this to say after the game regarding Roy's injury - "That [injury] can sit you down for a month."

Roy will be evaluated today by the Blazer's medical staff but given the nature of groin injuries and the ominous quote from his head coach, I expect Portland to be very careful with their franchise guard. Roy is a tough kid so a return is certainly not out of the question; however, he will not be 100% again this season and fantasy owners must temper their expectations if he is to come back this season.

Fantasy Impact

This is a tough blow to Roy owners as the 2007 Rookie Of The Year contributes in fantasy categories across the board. Travis Outlaw and Jarrett Jack will be asked take on more of the scoring burden in Roy's absence and with rumors swirling that those two might be traded this offseason, it might be in Portland's best interest to feature both guys the rest of the way.

Jack and Outlaw are both good options with Roy out; however, the Blazer I like most going forward is Martell Webster. Over the last 2 months, Webster has played well when given the minutes. In 12 games where he has seen 30+ minutes, Webster is averaging 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 three pointers. With Roy on the sidelines, Webster should see 30 or more minutes on a consistent basis the rest of the way.

Webster has topped 20 points in each of his last two games and poured home 9 threes in that time. I added him earlier in the week and suggest you do the same as he is a good source of points and rebounds as well as a difference maker in the the three point department.

Elton Brand Scheduled To Return For Championship Week

Like Willis Reed beating the odds and hobbling onto the Madison Square Garden court before game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Elton Brand will reward his owners by playing in the final 5-6 games of the season. His return is tentatively scheduled for either Sunday April 6th versus Houston or Tuesday April 8th against Denver. Both are Clippers' home games and an April 6th return will give you one Brand start during the semifinal round, an added bonus.

Fantasy Impact

Brand's return would hurt the value of Chris Kaman - who is targeting a March 31st return from his own injuries -reducing his offensive touches and taking away rebounds from the big man who has enjoyed a fine season. Further, it would end the cinderella run of the Clippers current center, Josh Powell, who has been averaging nearly 12 points and 9 rebounds over the last week or so.

We all know the great things Brand can do for a fantasy basketball team. He is a double-double threat on a nightly basis and one of the finest scoring big men in the game today. Upon his return following a long layoff, he will most certainly be rusty and might even play inconsistent minutes as he is not in prime game shape. Regardless, even at 75%, he will be a solid option in all leagues.

I would not advise sacrificing a roster spot to add Brand right now in smaller leagues. Remember people, to use him in 2 weeks, you still need to be in the playoffs! It's crunch time, use your moves wisely...

Final Fantasy Basketball Playoff Prep From Around The Web

The 11th hour is upon us people! FSE has done everything it in its power to get you ready for the fantasy basketball playoffs which kick off in roughly 4 hours with the first set of game ready to tip around 7 eastern.

As you make your final preparations and roster moves for the first night of playoff competition, we submit some posts we found very valuable from our friends around the basketblogosphere:

- Hoops Fantasy and Give Me The Rock both offer updates on the injury to Dirk Nowitzki and the resulting fantasy impact.

- Also from Hoops Fantasy, check out this excellent summary of the five teams most egregiously tanking the season and what it means for your fantasy basketball squad.

- The NBA Rotoman weighs in on Stephane Lasme, the newest beneficiary of the great Miami Tank Job.

- Lester's Legends provides a rundown of players who are hot entering the fantasy playoffs.

- Farid of Fantasy Basketball Pros offers playoff-bound owners a podcast featuring 4 tips for success in the Yahoo H2H Playoffs.

Continue to check Fantasy Sports Experience throughout the playoffs for fantasy basketball news and analysis.

Best of luck in the playoffs!

Fantasy Basketball Playoffs Cram Session

For those savvy and/or lucky owners out there, the fantasy basketball playoffs begin tomorrow. To get you ready, FSE has thrown together a little cheat sheet to help your team succeed. For additional information, check out our latest edition of Desperation Station which highlights nine under the radar fantasy options.

Close To Returning

Pau Gasol, PF/C Los Angeles Lakers - Gasol has missed the last 5 games with a sprained ankle and will most likely miss the next two games as well. However, Gasol should be back this weekend either Friday (Grizzlies) or Sunday (Wizards). Once Gasol proves his health, the Lakers will give him plenty of burn as they jostle for playoff position and prepare for the second season.

Daniel Gibson, PG/SG Cleveland Cavaliers - Gibson has said he will be back for Wednesday's home game versus the Hornets after missing the last 17 games with a serious left ankle sprain. If he doesn't play Wednesday expect him in the lineup this weekend at Detroit on Saturday. Gibson should be worked back into the starting rotation and can be a solid contributor in the three point department.

Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C Indiana Pacers - O'Neal, who has missed the last two months with a knee injury that has plagued him for the better part of the past two seasons, is expected to return sometime this week. The Pacers host the Hornets Tuesday before playing a home and home with the Nets Wednesday and Friday. I wouldn't get all too excited about JO's return this season as the knee is still not 100% and he will most likely be coming off the bench for a while. If he can consistently get 25 minutes, O'Neal will is a good source of rebounds and blocks and can score a bit, but temper your expectations.

Chris Kaman, C Los Angeles Clippers - The big man declared himself ready to return; however, Coach Mike Dunleavy has said that the team will hold Kaman out for another week just to be safe. Essentially, this is code for we're tanking and Kaman would help us win. Expect him back Monday the 31st against Dallas at the earliest; however I wouldn't be surprised if Kaman's return continues to get postponed.

Gilbert Arenas, PG Washington Wizards - We've already discussed Agent Zero's potential return in-depth. To recap, don't expect much. 

Andrew Bynum, C Los Angeles Lakers - Another injury we've already dissected. Like Arenas, we wouldn't get our hopes up here.

Emerging Fantasy Options

Mardy Collins, PG/SG New York Knicks - Oh yes, it's that time of year! Mardy had 12 points and 8 assists in 35 minutes Saturday night. With Nate Robinson missing time and the Knicks slowly slipping into full on tank mode, Mardy can be a decent source of assists and has the ability to put up point totals in the low teens.

Jeff Green, SF/PF Seattle Supersonics - With the Sonics' roster totally depleted, Green continues to see 30+ minutes a night. The 2007 first round pick has put up his best point averages of the season in March and can give you points and rebounds down the stretch.

Kirk Snyder, SG/SF Minnesota Timberwolves - Since being traded to Minnesota from Houston, Snyder has seen his playing time increase. Over the last 4 games, Snyder is putting up 13 points and 6 rebounds a game and should see ample burn down the stretch.

Spencer Hawes, C Sacramento Kings - The 10th pick overall is starting to see more time late in the season as the Kings attempt to gauge what they have in the big man out of Washington. He is coming off career game putting up 19 points, 12 rebound, and 3 blocks in 37 minutes. If given 30+ minutes he can contribute in rebounds and blocks consistently with the ability to score in the mid teens.

Ronald "Flip" Murray, SG Indiana Pacers - With Jamal Tinsley done for the season and Travis Diener demoted to the bench, the newly acquired Flip Murray is the Pacers defacto starter at point guard for the remainder of the season. Murray puts up decent point and steal totals and can contribute in assists and three pointers.

Welcome Back

Nenad Krstic, PF/C New Jersey Nets - Nenad is back (again) and can help you in points, rebounds and to a lesser extent blocks. He should see 25+ minutes a night as the Nets battle for the 8 seed in the East.

Carl Landry, SF/PF - The second round stud is back after a 7 game layoff and has picked up where he left off putting up strong point and rebounding numbers. Landry should see his playing time return to the 20-25 minute range and can help your team in FG%, points and rebounds.

Recently Injured/Tanking Casualties

Nate Robinson, PG/SG New York Knicks - Robinson missed Saturday night's home game against Minnesota with a knee sprain sustained the previous night. He has been listed as day to day and the New York media is accusing Isiah of tanking. Whatever the case, we are wary of Nate going forward. 

Shawn Marion, SF/PF Miami Heat - Marion is another guy on a bad team that is listed as day to day. He has missed 5 of the last 6 games with a "back injury" and the perennial fantasy stalwart is becoming a headache for fantasy owners. I wouldn't advise dropping The Matrix just yet. However, if he continues to miss time and things get dire, you gotta whatever it takes to survive.

Dirk Nowitzki, PF Dallas Mavericks -  Dirk took a spill in the Mavs' Sunday afternoon tilt with the Spurs, injuring his "leg and ankle" according to team officials. ESPN is reporting that Dirk could be out over 2 weeks which is a devastating blow to fantasy owners. We will have more on Dirk's injury and the fantasy implications once more information becomes available.

Andrew Bynum May Return After All - Don't Get Too Excited

In an interesting turn of events, Andrew Bynum, who was deemed out until the playoffs as early as Monday, now has a chance to be back two weeks from Sunday and available for the Lakers final 6 games. 

Fantasy Impact

Although this is good news for Lakers fans, I would advise the Bynum faithful in fantasyland to keep their expectations of the young big man in check for three reasons. First, Bynum hasn't played since January 13th and will more than likely have some rust to shake off upon his return. Second, he will have to get acclimated to playing alongside Pau Gasol who will undoubtedly steal some of his offensive touches. Finally, Bynum isn't going to play 30+ minutes a game as he did before the injury because the Lakers will most certainly be extra cautious with him heading into the playoffs. 

LA's biggest goal for Bynum upon his return is to get him back in the flow of the offense and try to build some chemistry between he and Gasol. Bynum's knee injury was a big blow to fantasy owners and derailed the young center's season just as he was peaking. In six January games, Bynum was averaging season highs across the board putting up 17.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting a sparkling 70% from the field. Although Bynum impact on the remainder of the 2007-08 fantasy season will be minimal, he will enter the 2008-09 campaign as one of the top 5-10 centers in fantasy basketball.

Fantasy Basketball Desperation Station - Super Sized Playoff Tune Up

With the fantasy basketball regular season in its final week for most owners and the playoffs just around the corner, now is the perfect time to make a stop at Desperation Station because the pickings are slim. Given that we are entering a critical juncture in the fantasy season, FSE has rolled out a special double strength edition of DS highlighting a record nine players!

Let's get to it...

Bomb Squad

Vladimir Radmonovic, PF Los Angeles Lakers - With Andrew Bynum done for the remainder of the fantasy season and Pau Gasol still a week or so away from returning, Vlad Rad will be seeing plenty of playing time. He has started the last 6 games and averaged around 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1+ three pointers. Radmonovic broke out last game, dropping 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 three pointers on the Mavs; however, don't expect too many of those games from the inconsistent forward. As long as he is playing significant minutes, Rad's chief contributions will come in the three point department and he can also provide some help in points and rebounds. 

Juan Carlos Navarro, PG/SG Memphis Grizzlies - I discussed the virtues of the frequently added and dropped sharpshooter on NBARotoman's Fantasy Chat on Sunday. Navarro can really fill it up from the outside and in 27 games when playing 30+ minutes he is averaging around 16 points and 3 three pointers. Navarro has already put up 20 or more points in 11 games this season and should see good playing time late in the season, especially if the team decides to shut the less than 100% Mike Conley down.

Gordan Giricek, SG Phoenix Suns - Playing for his third team this season after being traded by Utah for Kyle Korver then bought out by the Sixers, Giricek seems to have found a home in the shooter's paradise known as Phoenix. In two games with the Suns where Giricek has seen 30+ minutes, he has put up a total of 41 points and hit on 4 threes. Giricek's key strength is in the three point category as he will get plenty of long looks in the Suns offense. Expect point totals in the low to mid teens and around 2 three pointers a night down the stretch if he gets proper burn.

Deshawn Stevenson, SG Washington Wizards - We discussed the Lebron Stopper in our piece about Gilbert Arenas yesterday. He is averaging nearly 2 three pointers a game on the year and will contribute primarily in points and three pointers with the ability to get decent assist totals from time to time.

Thank The Tank 

Wilson Chandler, SF/PF New York Knicks - Ladies and gentlemen, the new starting small forward for you New York Knicks! Understand that Team Titanic II is not willingly trying to tank as Coach Zeke is most definately fighting for his job right now. The fact of the matter is that they have been ravaged by injuries and are simply not a good basketball team. Chandler, the 2007 first round pick out of Depaul, has started the last 6 games and should continue to see ample playing time down the stretch. Chandler is coming off a career game against Indiana putting up 15 points, 8 rebounds and a three pointer in 33 minutes. He is an athletic swingman that can help in points, rebounds and has a decent three point stroke, keep an eye on this youngster. 

Earl Barron, PF/C Miami Heat - To say the Heat are tanking at this point is a gross understatement. Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem have been shut down, Shawn Marion is struggling with a sore back and even Marcus Banks has not played in over 2 weeks. Enter Earl Barron. After 5 DNPs, Barron has played 27 minutes a night the last two games and averaged 18.5 points and 5 rebounds. It appears the Heat are beginning to favor Barron over Mark Blount in the middle and if he continues to see around 30 mins a night, he can help you in points and rebounds.

Josh Powell, SF/PF/C Los Angeles Clippers - Powell is another guy I discussed on Fantasy Chat and given the Clippers ridiculous number of injured forwards (Brand, Kaman, Paul Davis) he has started the last 5 games. Powell has good position versatility and his biggest contributions will come in rebounds. In addition, he has the ability to put up point totals in the low teens. Unfortunately, Powell doesn't shoot a great FG% and doesn't block many shots.

Dishin' But Not Much Swishin'

Antonio Daniels, PG Washington Wizards - Daniels has been starting fairly regularly since early January and has quietly been a good source of assists in Gilbert Arenas' absence averaging around 5 a game this season. With Gil's return in question, Daniels has the ability to put up around 5 assists a night to go along with point totals in the low teens and a steal. Hey, there are worse options out there.

Club Dread

Mikki Moore, PF/C Sacramento Kings - Quietly, the Kings have won 4 of their last 5 games beating the Lakers, Warriors, Blazers and Raptors. At the center of the Kings' success has been Moore who is enjoying an excellent March averaging around 12 points and 7 rebounds while shooting a hot 68% from the field. He should continue to start and see plenty of playing time the rest of the way and appears to be an excellent option in your fantasy frontcourt.

Don't Expect Much From Gilbert Arenas This Season

With Agent Zero's original target date for return of March 2 come and gone, the Wizards guard has increased the intensity of his workouts in an effort to return at some point during Washington's final 16 games. An MRI showed that the injured knee has healed well and doctors cleared Arenas to return to strenuous practice.

Fantasy Impact

Many fantasy owners have been burned by Arenas this season and while this news provides some hope he will return in time for the fantasy playoffs I wouldn't count on him too heavily. Arenas hasn't played since November 16th and with only 16 games returning I doubt he will have time to return to form. I found the following quote by Gilbert very telling:

"When I come back, it's just an assist game. They don't want me jumping and being acrobatic." He continued "This year, don't go back trying to be me - just come back and be an assist man and stay out of the hole and just to be careful."

If this quote is any indication of the Arenas we will see if and when he returns, it appears he will strictly be a ball distributor and perimeter shooter. The fact he will shy away from getting to the rim and more importantly to the foul line will severely limit his offensive production. Arenas' drive is the facet of his offensive game that makes him special as he has averaged nearly 10 foul shots a game over the last 3 seasons.

At this point an Arenas's return would likely occur in the final two weeks of the season and the best fantasy owners can expect is contributions in the assist department and point totals in the mid teens.

With Arenas still on the sidelines, the trio of Antonio Daniels, Roger Mason Jr. and DeShawn Stevenson aka "The Lebron Stopper" will continue to see ample playing time. Stevenson and Mason can help in points and three pointers while Daniels represents the best all-around option with the ability to get 5-6 assists and score in the low teens.

Watch FSE On NBARotoman's Fantasy Chat

Yesterday, I was a guest on NBARotoman's Fantasy Chat over at NBA Roto, an excellent fantasy basketball website. Topics discussed on the show include the late season waiver wire scramble in fantasy basketball and top sleepers going forward. Check out the video below:



I want to thank NBA Roto for having me on the show and if you are a fantasy basketball fanatic I strongly reccomend you check out this site each day.

Pau Gasol Out Next 3 Games, Likely Longer - Ronny Turiaf To Start, It's Kobe Time

Pau Gasol has been ruled out for the remainder of the Lakers' road trip with a sprained left ankle suffered early in Friday night's loss to the New Orleans Hornets. X-rays revealed a moderate sprain which will sideline Gasol for today's game at Houston as well as next week's game at Dallas and Utah. Gasol has averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds a game with the Lakers and the team is 15-4 since his arrival. 

Fantasy Impact

With Bynum still out, Ronny Turiaf is the last healthy center left standing in Lakerland and will see a few starts in Gasol's absence. Turiaf has been a solid contributor for the Lakers this year and his high energy play on both the offensive and defensive ends makes him an intriguing fantasy option.

Turiaf is an adept shot blocker, averaging 1.3 a night and has shown the ability to be a solid contributor in both points and rebounds when given extended playing time. In 10 games this season where Turiaf has played 25+ minutes, he is averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and a sparkling 2.2 blocks a contest. 

On Friday night, Turiaf played 33 minutes after replacing Gasol 2 and a half minutes into the game and you can expect him to see around 30 minutes a night over the next week. Unfortunately, the Lakers will play three of the NBA's best in Houston, Dallas and Utah, so temper your expectations of Turiaf a bit despite the big minutes. He should be a good source of rebounds and blocks but the point totals will be inconsistent.

Other Lakers to watch include Vladimir Radmonovic, who should see more offensive touches and increase his three point and scoring totals, and of course Kobe Bryant. Bynum and Gasol's injuries coupled with Lamar Odom's inconsistency on the offensive end, you can expect Kobe to fill up the stat sheet and put up some serious point totals as long as Gasol is out.  

Fantasy Basketball Desperation Station - 3/13/08

I hope this stop at Desperation Station finds you well. In this edition, we take a look at a few rookies and a that could provide you with some assistance at this critical juncture of the fantasy season.

Nick Young, Washington Wizards SG/SF - The rookie first round pick out of USC has worked his way deeper into the Wizards' rotation this month. He has enjoyed  his most productive month as a pro averaging 13.6 points, 4 rebounds, 1+ three pointer and 1 steal in around 22 minutes a night. With Arenas out for another 2-3 weeks, Young should continue to see around 20 minutes a night going forward. He can be a nice short-term stop gap option and contribute in points and threes while grabbing a few boards.

Daequan Cook, Miami Heat PG/SG - Yesterday, GM/coach Pat Riley cited Cook as one of the Heat's core players heading into 2008. With Miami fully entrenched in tank mode, the rookie guard from Ohio State should see ample minutes down the stretch.  Cook has started and played nearly 40 minutes a night over his last two games putting up productive numbers. On Monday against the Clippers, Cook was impressive scoring 23 points and hitting on 5 threes. He followed that up with only 6 points and 2 threes Wednesday, although he did grab 8 rebounds in a losing effort versus the Knicks. If he continues to see big minutes, Cook can contribute effectively in points and threes while helping out in rebounds and assists here and there. Be aware that Cook is a young, inexperienced player and will have good nights as well as bad down the stretch.

Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland Cavaliers SG/SF - Pavlovic returned to the Cavs starting lineup tonight after missing the last 23 games with a foot injury. Pavlovic looked good scoring 24 points and nailing 5 threes in 28 minutes. Pavlovic should continue to start down the stretch and barring injury he can be a solid contributor. His strengths are scoring and three point shooting however he can help out a little in rebounds and assists as well.   

Eddy Curry Likely Out For The Season - More Minutes For Wilson Chandler & Randolph Morris

An MRI has revealed that Eddy Curry has a vertical cartilage tear in his right knee. Surgery is required to repair the damage and by all accounts Curry will more than likely opt for the season-ending procedure sometime later this week.

Fantasy Impact

With Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph hurt and candidates to possibly be shut down early (more on this in part 3 of our Tanking Casualties and Solutions series tomorrow) the Knicks will be forced to turn to some fresh faces to round out the lineup. The biggest beneficiary of these injuries among the Knicks bench players will be 2007 first round pick Wilson Chandler.

Glued to the bench for a majority of the season, Chandler has seen his playing time increase of late, averaging 25+ minutes over the last four games which has included two starts at power forward. Chandler is very raw but an excellent athlete capable of helping in points and rebounds.

Like Chandler, Morris hasn't played much this season. However, the possibility of Curry and Randolph being sidelined leaves Morris as the last true big man (Jerome James doesn't count) on the roster outside of David Lee and the undersized Malik Rose who are better suited to play PF.

In Wednesday's game against the Cavs, Morris had 7 points and 7 rebounds in only 12 minutes showing some potential as a late season fantasy contributor. Unfortunately, Isiah has only played him a total of 9 minutes over the past two games. Way to build up the young man's confidence.

Despite Saturday's benching of Morris, Isiah appears committed to playing both youngsters a good amount over the team's final 19 games. When asked about playing Morris and Chandler after the game, Isiah was quoted in the New York Post as saying "It's time. It really is that simple. It's time."

I am certainly not ready to reccomend either as a fantasy option yet. However, it is worth mentioning that these two youngsters are in a position to see ample playing time late in the season and could be nice stopgap options come the fantasy basketball playoffs.

Dwayne Wade Done For The Season - Miami Ups The Tanking Ante

On Friday in part 1 of our Tanking Casualties and Solutions series, we highlighted the Miami Heat and placed Dwayne Wade as the #1 shutdown candidate on the Heat roster. In the post we said this of D-Wade:

"He (Wade) has enjoyed another solid season averaging around 24 points and 7 assists a night and has repeatedly said he will not shut down his season early. I give it two weeks before Riley has him in street clothes and bling on the bench."

Today, Pat Riley announced that Wade will miss the remainder of the season to undergo treatment on his knee. This move is hardly surprsing as it is foolish for the Heat to continue to run a less than 100% Wade out there on a nightly basis with nothing to play for. At 11-50 Miami currently holds the NBA's worst record and the best odds at the #1 pick in June's draft by 3 games over the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Wade shutdown, Miami is in the driver seat to snag the 25% odds in the lottery. Your move Minnesota!

Fantasy Impact

Remember in season 4 of The Wire when in an effort to shutdown Major Crimes, Rawls enlists his "Trojan Horse" Charlie Marimow to destroy the unit's effectiveness? Well in terms of tanking in the NBA, no single player fits the Trojan Horse description better than Mr. Ricky Davis.

Who can forget his pivotal role in leading Cleveland to 17 wins in 2002-03 and the best lottery odds in arguably the finest draft in the last 20 years. Cavs fans will always owe Davis a debt of gratitude for bringing King James to Cleveland. The Trojan Horse was back at again last year when he played a big role in sinking the ship in Minnesota (although it can be argued McHale had a bigger hand in that disaster) and this year, not suprisingly, he is the main cog in Miami's hopes of obtaining the coveted 25% lottery odds.

You can bet Pat Riley will unleash Davis in the final 21 games and allow him to sink the team to the promised land. Davis is a solid producer in points and three pointers and can contribute a bit in rebounds and assists as well. He is a fine pickup going forward.

In addition, fantasy owners can also get some value out of the Heat's new three-headed monster at point guard featuring Jason Williams, Marcus Banks and Chris Quinn. Williams and Banks can score in bunches and are a decent source of assists while Chris Quinn is more of a three point specialist who can put up decent assist totals from time to time.

Keep an eye on how the minutes are distributed in Miami's backcourt over the next few games to see who has the most value. Lately, J-Will has been in Riley's doghouse giving Banks and Quinn additional minutes. With Williams being the best point guard of the three and an expiring contract who wont be back next season, I wouldn't be surprised if Banks and Quinn see the most burn down the stretch. Rookie Daequan Cook may also get a look and could be a stopgap guard option late in the season.

Tanking Casualties and Solutions - Part 2: Memphis Grizzlies & Seattle Supersonics

In part 1 of our Tanking Casualties and Solutions series, we took a look at the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves - the teams with the best odds of landing the #1 pick in June's draft. The second part of this 4 part series focuses on the Memphis Grizzlies and Seattle Supersonics who currently hold the third and fourth best odds of winning the draft lottery. 

When reviewing each team, we will focus on four key things:

• Tanking status/potential - How bad do these teams want Michael Beasley?


• The Departed - Who can we cross off the list.


• Shut Down Candidates - Remember, this is for the good of the franchise... now put on your suit and act hurt.


• Tanking Beneficiaries - Bench players that look to gain significant playing time down the stretch - in the spirit of Mardy Collins and Tarence Kinsey.

# 3 Memphis Grizzlies - Current Lottery Odds: 15.6%

Tanking Status - Tanking hard since Pau Gasolgate.

Memphis GM Chris Wallace is no stranger to tanking season during his lackluster career in the NBA. As soon as Pau Gasol was dealt for two late first round draft picks and cap space, the tanking switched into full effect. 

The Departed

None

Shutdown Candidates (Chances of being shutdown in parentheses)

Mike Miller (85%) - Many thought Miller was the next to go after Gasol was dealt to LA. However, GM Chris Wallace got a little gun shy at the deadline after taking a lot of heat for the Gasol trade from GMs and coaches around the league. Miller has been dealing with back issues for a while now and Wednesday's game against the Nets was his first in over 2 weeks after missing the prior seven with a sore back. While Memphis would like to showcase Miller a bit since they will likely attempt to move him in the offseason his back will eventually take its toll and land him in a suit on the bench.

Mike Conley Jr. (60%) - Conley, the 2007 #4 overall pick, is the Grizzlies' point guard of the future and has been struggling of late. Over his last 4 games, he has failed to reach double digit points, is shooting around 25% from the field and has accumulated only 6 assists. Conley has been oft-injured in his rookie season and does not seem 100% healthy at times. Memphis could continue to play Conley and allow him to gain some good experience; however, there is also a good case for continuing to give Kyle Lowry big minutes to increase his trade value. I am betting Memphis will do the latter.

Rudy Gay (25%) - Gay is enjoying a fine sophomore campaign and has become the unanimous fan favorite in Memphis. Barring injury or Memphis getting really desperate for losses, Gay should stay on the floor to put some butts in the seats the final month.

Tanking Beneficiaries

Hakim Warrick - Hak has been averaging over 30 minutes a night since the Gasol trade and has responded by putting up a solid 16 points and 8 rebounds a game. Warrick is a potential trade candidate this offseason as the Grizz continue their roster overhaul and he will be showcased heavily over the last month.

Kyle Lowry - Lowry has seen his playing time increase of late and should Mike Conley get shutdown he would be the Grizzlies starting point guard for the rest of the season. Lowry is a scrappy point guard who can help in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Juan Carlos Navarro - The Spanish sharpshooter should be in line for more playing time if Mike Miller becomes a tanking casualty. Navarro is an adept long range shooter and can help in points and three pointers. 

Javaris Crittenton - Acquired from the Lakers in the Gasol deal, Crittenton's minutes thus far in Memphis have been inconsistent. However, when he has seen 25+ minutes Crittenton has shown the ability to score and could be a decent stopgap option late in the season.

#4 Seattle Supersonics - Current Lottery Odds: 11.9%

Tanking Status - Tanking began when Ray Allen was traded and kicked into over drive at the trade deadline.

Since drafting Kevin Durant with the #2 pick in last year's draft, the Sonics have been in full fledged rebuilding mode. GM Sam Presti has shed numerous expensive contracts and deserves credit for clearing ample cap space while obtaining multiple future first round picks in the process. 

The Departed

Robert Swift - Knee Surgery, out for the season.

Shutdown Candidates

Chris Wilcox (50%) - The Sonics rid themselves of their top shutdown candidates - Kurt Thomas and Wally Szczerbiak - at the trade deadline and this team is clearly bad enough to lose as is. Outside of Durant, Wilcox has arguably been Seattle's most productive player this season averaging around 14 points and 8 rebounds a game while shooting 53% from the field. Sidelining him late in the season could help provide a tanking boost if necessary.

Kevin Durant (25%) - Durant is the centerpiece that the Sonics will be the building around for year's to come. If healthy, I think Durant plays out the season. However, should he get hurt, the team likely won't take any chances by playing the franchise forward in a bunch of meaningless games late in the season.

Tanking Beneficiaries

Jeff Green - The rookie #5 pick out of Georgetown has seen a bump in his playing time over the last 10 games and has put up some respectable numbers over that stretch. Green has had a quiet rookie campaign to date but if he gets 30+ minutes a night down the stretch, he can help fantasy teams in points, rebounds and steals.

Nick Collison - Collison is is a strong rebounder and scrappy player down low, averaging nearly 10 points and 9 rebounds a game in 27 minutes. Collison is a solid fantasy option now; however, if Wilcox were to get shutdown, he would start at PF and be a legitimate double-double threat on a nightly basis. 

Earl Watson - In a Seattle backcourt loaded with mediocre guards, it appears Earl Watson will start at point guard for the remainder of the season. Watson is a solid source of assists averaging nearly 7 a game on the season and can put up decent point totals here and there.  

Tanking Casualties & Solutions - Part 1: Miami Heat & Minnesota Timberwolves

March is upon us and in the NBA that means teams are flipping into tank mode in order to secure better odds in the draft lottery. Over the next few weeks you can expect bad teams to make key players disappear from the starting lineup while giving bench warmers bigger minutes in the pursuit of landing the #1 pick.

Get ready for ambiguous injuries like stress fractures that suddenly shut a guy down for the remainder of the season. Be prepared for generic excuses ranging from "we don't want to risk further injury" and "we want him 100% for the start of training camp" to the dreaded "we're taking it day by day" which really means he could play now but to avoid bad press we are going to drag this out and shut him down for good with 3-4 games to play.

This widespread tanking couldn't come at a worse time for fantasy owners as we are now on the home stretch of the fantasy basketball season and approaching playoff time. As a public service to all nervous fantasy owners out there, FSE has put together a 5 part series documenting the potential impact tanking will have on the remainder of the fantasy basketball season.

This 4 part series will cover the teams with little to no hope of making the playoffs and those who may tank later in the season. When reviewing each team, we will focus on four key things:

• Tanking status/potential - How bad do these teams want Michael Beasley?


• The Departed - Who can we cross off the list.


• Shut Down Candidates - Remember, this is for the good of the franchise... now put on your suit and act hurt.


• Tanking Beneficiaries - Bench players that look to gain significant playing time down the stretch - in the spirit of Mardy Collins and Tarence Kinsey.

In part 1, we take a look at the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves - the two teams who currently hold the worst records in basketball and have the best odds of landing the #1 pick in June.

#1 - Miami Heat - Current Lottery Odds: 25%

Tanking Status: Full Steam Ahead

Whenever your coach decides to take a few games off to go scout NCAA games, you know your season is lost. Impressively, Miami currently holds the NBA's worst record by one game over the Minnesota Timberwolves despite running out a decent starting lineup featuring two fantasy studs in Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion.

The Departed

Dorell Wright - Just as he was developing into a nice all-around fantasy option, knee surgery ended his season.

Shut Down Candidates (Chance of being shutdown in parentheses)

Dwayne Wade (90%) - Wade is the franchise and is not a 100% healthy yet he has only missed 2 games since returning November 14th. He has enjoyed another solid season averaging around 24 points and 7 assists a night and has repeatedly said he will not shut down his season early. I give it two weeks before Riley has him in street clothes and bling on the bench.

Udonis Haslem (75%) - Haslem has battled nagging injuries all season and recently has been dealing with family issues. He has been a good fantasy contributor, putting up nearly a double-double averaging 12 points and 9 boards this year. He'll be one of those guys that gets phased out of the lineup quietly in the last two weeks.

Shawn Marion (30%) - Marion has struggled since arriving in Miami and he isn't the type of player that can win games on his own. Keep in mind thatMarion is able to opt out this summer, something Riley is hoping for as it will open up 17 million in cap space. Thus, showcasing Marion now could help drive up his value and allow Riley to complete the once impossible dream of clearing Shaq's monster contract off the books.

Tanking Beneficiaries

Ricky Davis - The Michael Jordan of the tanking season, no one can help a team land the #1 pick better than this guy. Cleveland Cavaliers fans are forever indebted to Davis for bringing home Lebron James with his remarkably selfish play and destructive ego during the 2002-03 campaign. Expect Davis to see 35+ minutes down the stretch and be a good source of scoring.

Marcus Banks - With Dwade looking on from the sidelines, Banks should see increasing minutes at point guard. He's a fast guard who should contribute in points, assists and maybe even threes.

Earl Barron - With Shaq gone and Haslem primed for shut down, that should leave some burn for Barron in future losing efforts. Barron has quietly been getting increasing playing time of late and could be a stopgap center option late in the season.

Chris Quinn - Is a good outside shooter that could help in three pointers, points and assists to a lesser extent.

#2 - Minnesota Timberwolves - Current Lottery Odds: 19.9%

Tanking Status: Been Tanking Since The KG Trade

During Kevin McHale's reign of terror in Minnesota the T'Wolves regressed to the point where trading Kevin Garnett became the feel good story of the summer. In return for Garnett, the T'Wolves got a young franchise-type center and the guarantee they would be one of the five worst teams in the NBA for the next 2-3 years. Something tells me Minnesota is going to land the top odds in the draft lottery over Miami even if it means having McHale suit up and let his arm pit hair flow freely once again.

The Departed

None

Shutdown Candidates

Al Jefferson (95%) - The only elite fantasy player or real-life player on the Minnesota roster, Jefferson has had a monster year averaging over 21 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block a night. Wednesday night, Jefferson injured his leg and missed the 4th quarter of the T'Wolves 39 point loss at Utah. This might be just the excuse the team needs to take him out of play, stay tuned.

Randy Foye (50%) - Foye represents the only other semblance of fantasy-relevant talent and I am not quite sure what the team will do with him. On the one hand, Foye is coming off injury that forced him to miss the first three months of the season. Thus, the team might want him risking further injury with nothing to play for. On the other hand, the last month of the season might be a good time to get Foye some experience at point guard. This is a toss up in my mind, but I'm leaning towards a late shutdown.

Tanking Beneficiaries

Sebastian Telfair - The pride of Coney Island has been putting up some pretty good numbers before the return of Randy Foye and has continued to be a productive assist man. If Foye is shutdown, Telfair will take on all point guard responsibilities and could be a strong backcourt option down the stretch.

Craig Smith - If Smith received 30+ minutes a night, he could be a Udonis Haslem clone and average 10-12 points and around 8 boards. Smith has played well in 3 March games thus far and look for him to have a bigger role going forward.

Kirk Snyder - Why McHale felt it necessary to deal young Gerald Green, one of the key pieces of the KG trade, to Houston for Kirk Snyder is beyond me. Regardless, Snyder has seen decent minutes in Minnesota so far, starting the last two games at SF averaging around 11 points and 5 rebounds. Snyder is also a good defensive player who can help in steals.

Chris Richard - After Al Jefferson is out of the lineup Richard might be the center of choice for the tanking T'Wolves. After a stint in the NBDL, Richard has returned to the pros and seen some increasing burn of late. Richard is a good rebounder who can score a little bit around the rim. He's a stopgap option at best.

Elton Brand May Not Return - Chris Kaman Owners Breathe Sign Of Relief

Elton Brand participated in Clippers' practice yesterday and various reports have the franchise power forward coming back in mid-March. However Fanhouse is reporting that Mike Dunleavy shot down that speculation a bit implying that Brand is closer than a month away from returning to the Clips lineup then 2 weeks as originally thought. For those of you scoring at home, a month from today would leave the Clippers with about 6 games remaining on the schedule which would all but rule out Brand's return.

Fantasy Impact

Chris Kaman has flourished this season in Brand's absence. The big man out of Central Michigan is putting up a legitimate double-double averaging around 16 points and 13 rebounds a game to go along with nearly 3 blocks a game. Kaman ranks third in rebounds and second in blocks among fantasy centers and has been a top 5-10 option at the position this season. 

Kaman owners have been fearing a return by Brand for a few weeks now. The presence of Brand at power forward would cut into Kaman's scoring opportunities down low and would reduce his rebounding totals significantly. These recent comments by Dunleavy reinforce what many people have been thinking which is the Clippers will try to keep Brand off the court in what has been a lost season. 

This is excellent news for Kaman owners as well as those invested in Al Thornton. With Brand out and Tim Thomas dealing with back spasms, the youngster is almost guaranteed ample playing time and scoring opportunities down the stretch. Additionally, Corey Maggette should continue to pour in big scoring totals while contributing in rebounds and assists.