This week, one hand washes the other.
This time of the season presents a strange dichotomy. While offering my own picks is all well and good, with the dearth of remaining play-able picks, it's probably not as helpful to the Challenger merely to see who it is I've chosen for the week.
It's with that in mind that I've opted to look both at some notable Pick One performances from the past week and also to note some injuries that are sure to open up playing time for less well-established players.
NOTABLE RECENT PERFORMANCES
Player: Rodrigue Beaubois - DAL
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 19.0 / 54.7 (3)
General Thoughts: Beaubois has benefited greatly from Jason Terry's broken face, playing about 29 minutes per game over his last three, while scoring at least 17 points in each of those contests. Beaubois has about two more Terry-less weeks.
Player: Bill Walker - NYK
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 7.7 / 19.3 (4)
General Thoughts: If my Mike D'Antoni put my little in the Knicks starting lineup, I'd have to consider her a viable Pick One selection. Watch out here, though: Walker follows two 20-plus point performances with two sub-10 pointers.
Player: Serge Ibaka - OKC
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 21.6 / 35.6 (5)
General Thoughts: Ibaka's minutes-played numbers over his last five: 27, 7, 27, 18, 17. That's frustrating, as, with something like consistent minutes, Ibaka could be a viable Pick One selection.
Player: Brad Miller - CHI
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 14.3 / 24.3 (3)
General Thoughts: First with the departure of Tyrus Thomas, and now Joakim Noah's bout of plantar fascitis, Miller has found himself playing about 30 MPG. As long as Noah's out, Miller's a go.
Player: Luis Scola - HOU
Season Average / Last Week (Games): 26.1 / 37.0 (4)
General Thoughts: In this two most recent games, Scola has posted 14 and then 13 rebounds, respectively. He's probably not good for that every night, although he seems to have filled some of the rebounding vacuum left by the departed Carl Landry.
NOTABLE INJURIES
Player: Tony Parker - SAS
Injury: Hand
Return: Four to Six Weeks
Key Beneficiaries: George Hill
Player: Jason Terry
Injury: Broken Face
Return: Ten to Fourteen Days
Key Beneficiaries: Rodrigue Beaubois, J.J. Barea
Player: Kenyon Martin
Injury: Left Patella Stuff
Return: Day-to-Day (although could be much longer)
Key Beneficiaries: Johan Petro -- Nene and Carmelo to a lesser degree
Player: Joakim Noah
Injury: Plantar Fascitis
Return: Three Weeks
Key Beneficiaries: Taj Gibson, Brad Miller
Player: Shaquille O'Neal
Injury: Finger
Return: Up to Eight Weeks
Key Beneficiaries: J.J. Hickson, Antawn Jamison
In the event that you're still with me, here are the picks for the week:
Date: Monday, March 08, 2010
Player: Caron Butler - DAL
Opposition: vs Minnesota
2009-2010 Averages: 16.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.2 APG (25.4 PRA)
General Thoughts: The T-Wolves have recently usurped Phoenix for the second place spot in points allowed per game. That's not what you'd call an honor exactly, but it's certainly something for the Challenger to note. The man I'd really like to take here is Frenchman Rodrigue Beaubois, as he's benefited greatly from Jason Terry's absence. Unfortunately, I took him earlier in the season. Barea also occurred to me, but he's just not producing consistently enough.
Date: Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Player: Elton Brand - PHI
Opposition: at Indiana
2009-2010 Averages: 13.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 APG (21.8 PRA)
General Thoughts: No, Elton Brand is not the same player to whom Philadelphia gave a five-year, $80 million contract in July of 2008. That said, he's still a serviceable Pick One play given the right circumstance. The Pacers are precisely such a circumstance, ranking second-to-last in rebounds allowed, and seventh-from-last in points allowed. That's a good combo for Brand, whose Pick One value is tied primarily to those two categories.
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Player: Beno Udrih - SAC
Opposition: vs Toronto
2009-2010 Averages: 12.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.8 APG (18.5 PRA)
General Thoughts: Oklahoma City has contests remaining versus both Phoenix and Golden State. Were that not the case, I'd probably pick one of two rookies -- James Harden or Serge Ibaka -- from the Thunder. As it is, I'm going with Udrih tonight. The Slovenian has found his situation improve dramatically since the departure of Kevin Martin to the Houston Rockets. The player the Kings got in return -- Carl Landry -- isn't so much of a threat to Udrih's playing time, and recent acquisition Larry Hughes has yet to find the floor.
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Player: LaMarcus Aldridge - POR
Opposition: at Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 17.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.9 APG (27.5 PRA)
General Thoughts: It's like a gift on one of these typically light Thursday nights to find that the Golden State Warriors are in the mix, as it makes the decision-making process pretty east. For me, Aldridge is the obvious choice. I've already used Brandon Roy and, with Marcus Camby's ankle a possible question mark, Aldridge might be relied upon for a greater-than-usual rebounding responsibility. So long as Aldridge can keep his fouls in check, he should find 30 PRA with relative ease.
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
Player: Kevin Garnett - BOS
Opposition: vs Indiana
2009-2010 Averages: 14.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.8 APG (24.8 PRA)
General Thoughts: My choices for tonight came down to Garnett and the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, who's playing at home versus New York. New York is a sweet opponent for big men, admittedly, but I'm going with Garnett for two reasons. First, because Memphis has two remaining match-ups versus Golden State, which'll provide plenty of opportunity to select Gasol. Second, because Garnett is a perpetual injury risk, but is healthy enough for the time being.
Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010
Player: Chris Bosh - TOR
Opposition: at Golden State
2009-2010 Averages: 24.3 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 2.3 APG (38.1 PRA)
General Thoughts: Since Bosh has been out, a number of promising match-ups have come and gone for Toronto, generally, and Bosh, specifically. Well, as of last Sunday night (when I originally wrote these words), Bosh is back. It was that night that he returned from an ankle-injury****-flu situation to put up 12 points, 12 rebounds, and an assist in about 33 minutes. Hopefully, he's producing closer to his season averages coming into tonight's game.
Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Player: Jason Thompson - SAC
Opposition: vs Minnesota
2009-2010 Averages: 12.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.7 APG (23.2 PRA)
General Thoughts: Like Bosh last night, Thompson has also been dealing with injuries of late -- in this case, his back. Also like Bosh, Thompson made his return from injury last Sunday (when I wrote these words). In 30 minutes during that game, Thompson put up 11 points, eight rebounds, and an assist, just shy of his season averages in all three categories. Hopefully, by tonight, he'll be a little closer to his season mark of 32 MPG.
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