The rich get richer this week as four of the top-eight in offensive pace draw the easiest schedules this week. Those heavily invested in LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews, and Andre Miller will have to bite the bullet. Not only do the Blazers have the hardest schedule this week (by a wide margin), but they are also the only team with only two games. This is what happens when you draw a five-game week like they did in Week 2.
Based on 9-category z-scores to date, these values equate the average ease values for each team’s group of opponents this week…
Easiest Schedules: Golden State (+0.61), Phoenix (+0.57), Denver (+0.48), Sacramento (+0.38), Houston (+0.35)
Hardest Schedules: Portland (-0.50), Dallas (-0.37), Philadelphia (-0.36), Washington (-0.33), Miami (-0.33)
*** = check status
POINT GUARDS
1. Chris Paul – @LAC, @UTA, @POR, SAS (4)2. Monta Ellis – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
3. Stephen Curry – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
4. Deron Williams – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
5. Derrick Rose – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
6. Raymond Felton – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
7. Russell Westbrook – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4)
8. Tony Parker – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
9. Jason Terry – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
10. Jason Kidd – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
11. Mike Bibby – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
12. Jamal Crawford – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
13. Darren Collison – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
14. D.J. Augustin – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
15. Jameer Nelson – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
16. Jrue Holiday – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
17. Mo Williams – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
18. John Wall – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3) ***
19. Devin Harris – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
20. Daniel Gibson – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
21. Dwyane Wade – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4) ***
22. Brandon Jennings – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
23. Tyreke Evans – @UTA, @LAC, CHI (3)
24. Rodney Stuckey – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
25. Eric Bledsoe – NOR, SAC, @PHO, UTA (4)
26. Mike Conley – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
27. Beno Udrih – @UTA, @LAC, CHI (3)
28. Kirk Hinrich – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
29. Gilbert Arenas – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
30. Steve Nash – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4) ***
31. George Hill – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
32. Kyle Lowry – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
33. Rajon Rondo – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3) ***
34. Andre Miller – NOR, @NJN (2)
35. Toney Douglas – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
36. Derek Fisher – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
37. Luke Ridnour – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
38. Jose Calderon – PHI, @BOS, ATL (3)
39. Chauncey Billups – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3) ***
40. Nate Robinson – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
This is a pretty down week for point guards overall with many recently underachieving (Holiday, Augustin, Crawford) and others expected to miss a game or two (Nash, Billups, Rondo). Wall should be ready for Tuesday’s game against the 76ers, while Nash (groin strain) and Rajon Rondo (hamstring) are doubtful for Monday. Wade (wrist) and Billups (multiple injuries) are day-to-day, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see either miss another game or two. Health and a four-game slate will essentially get you a spot inside the top-25 … Not a big supporter of either Bibby or Crawford but they get their shine with a five-game schedule … Williams played well on Saturday and should be reasonably effective after dealing with a groin injury early on … Reke is starting to heat back up, but the FG% and turnovers are still killers … Calderon disappointed in his first game as the starter post-Jarrett Jack, but should be a pretty good PG3 from here on out … Adjust Nate’s value according to Rondo’s health. Remember that his 22-point outburst came against a severely defensively-challenged Calderon.
UPDATE: Monta came down with a bruised left hip injury in Sunday’s blowout loss against the Lakers. He was available to return but the scoreboard indicated otherwise.
SHOOTING GUARDS
1. Monta Ellis – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)2. Joe Johnson – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
3. Manu Ginobili – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
4. Raymond Felton – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
5. Kevin Martin – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
6. Stephen Jackson – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
7. Jason Terry – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
8. Jamal Crawford – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
9. Kobe Bryant – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
10. Paul Pierce – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
11. Jason Richardson – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
12. Daniel Gibson – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
13. Dorell Wright – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
14. Ray Allen – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
15. Dwyane Wade – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4) ***
16. Tyreke Evans – @UTA, @LAC, CHI (3)
17. Eric Gordon – NOR, SAC, @PHO, UTA (4)
18. Austin Daye – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
19. Landry Fields – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
20. Mike Dunleavy – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
21. Ben Gordon – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
22. Trevor Ariza – @LAC, @UTA, @POR, SAS (4)
23. Hedo Turkoglu – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
24. Reggie Williams – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
25. Arron Afflalo – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
26. Anthony Morrow – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
27. Brandon Rush – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
28. Vince Carter – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
29. Rodney Stuckey – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
30. Eric Bledsoe – NOR, SAC, @PHO, UTA (4)
31. James Harden – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4)
32. C.J. Miles – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
33. Grant Hill – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
34. Marco Belinelli – PHI, @BOS, ATL (3)
35. John Salmons – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
36. Shannon Brown – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
37. Kirk Hinrich – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
38. Gilbert Arenas – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
39. Kyle Korver – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
40. George Hill – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
41. Shannon Brown – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
42. Sonny Weems – PHI, @BOS, ATL (3)
43. O.J. Mayo – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
44. Matt Barnes – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
45. Ron Artest – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
46. Nicolas Batum – NOR, @NJN (2)
47. Evan Turner – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
48. Wesley Matthews – NOR, @NJN (2)
49. Andre Iguodala – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4) ***
50. Brandon Roy – NOR, @NJN (2) ***
The early season dip from Joe Johnson is really no surprise as we were all over his probable demise in the preseason with Larry Drew’s new motion offense coming to town. The Hawks draw five games this week though so he gets to be queen for a week … Richardson is in the midst of a mini-shooting slump and is clearly not as effective without Nash in the lineup … Love me some Eric Gordon but his FG% and turnovers are two pills to swallow, even if it means nearly 25 PPG … Daye has quietly putting up top-35 production over the past two weeks, just sayin’ … I got a couple “should I drop Afflalo?” questions triggered by a player note which labeled him an early-season bust. That term gets thrown around way too loosely, and certainly doesn’t apply to a late-round preseason flier who is posting top-65 production. Hold your Afflalo shares.
SMALL FORWARDS
1. Kevin Durant – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4)2. Danny Granger – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
3. Joe Johnson – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
4. LeBron James – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4)
5. Danilo Gallinari – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
6. Stephen Jackson – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
7. Wilson Chandler – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
8. Andrei Kirilenko – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
9. Gerald Wallace – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
10. Paul Pierce – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
11. Carmelo Anthony – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
12. Jason Richardson – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
13. Dorell Wright – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
14. Rudy Gay – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
15. Lamar Odom – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
16. Austin Daye – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
17. Richard Jefferson – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
18. Thaddeus Young – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
19. Boris Diaw – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
20. Landry Fields – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
21. Mike Dunleavy – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
22. Trevor Ariza – @LAC, @UTA, @POR, SAS (4)
23. Hedo Turkoglu – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
24. Reggie Williams – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
25. Anthony Morrow – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
26. Antawn Jamison – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
27. Rashard Lewis – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
28. Shane Battier – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
29. Brandon Rush – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
30. Vince Carter – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
31. Luol Deng – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
32. C.J. Miles – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
33. Grant Hill – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
34. John Salmons – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
35. Travis Outlaw – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
36. Caron Butler – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
37. Shannon Brown – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
38. Kyle Korver – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
39. Andres Nocioni – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
40. Shannon Brown – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
41. Sonny Weems – PHI, @BOS, ATL (3)
42. Matt Barnes – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
43. Ron Artest – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
44. Nicolas Batum – NOR, @NJN (2)
45. Evan Turner – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
46. Hakim Warrick – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
47. Richard Hamilton – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
48. Jeff Green – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4) ***
49. Andre Iguodala – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4) ***
50. Brandon Roy – NOR, @NJN (2) ***
Hear that? That was the buy-low window on Gallinari closing. Gallo averaged 25.5 points, three treys, five dimes, and five assists this past week over four games … Fields is a guy I’m willing to stick it out with long-term, even if Douglas goes on one of his hot streaks again … Butler and Salmons are doing their best to taste my patience, but I’m willing to stick it out and take the FG% hit. It’s still too early to give up on them. Call me hard-headed but I refuse to believe the eventual payout isn’t there … It’s really a game-to-game thing with Artest, Brown, and Barnes on who is going to get hot and deliver a big line, but there is certainly value to be had in a combination of that trio … Seven games and counting for Jeff Green and his sprained ankle. I’m not holding my breath that he’ll play more than two games this week.
POWER FORWARDS
1. Al Horford – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)2. Josh Smith – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)
3. Danny Granger – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
4. Paul Millsap – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
5. Dirk Nowitzki – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
6. Amar’e Stoudemire – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
7. Pau Gasol – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
8. David West – @LAC, @UTA, @POR, SAS (4)
9. Joakim Noah – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
10. Luis Scola – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
11. Wilson Chandler – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
12. Gerald Wallace – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
13. Chris Bosh – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4)
14. Al Jefferson – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
15. Andrei Kirilenko – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
16. Tim Duncan – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
17. Elton Brand – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
18. Kevin Love – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
19. Rudy Gay – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
20. Kevin Garnett – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
21. JaVale McGee – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
22. Tyrus Thomas – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
23. Charlie Villanueva – @DAL, @MEM, MIL, NYK (4)
24. Channing Frye – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
25. Zach Randolph – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
26. Nene Hilario – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
27. Lamar Odom – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
28. Andrea Bargnani – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
29. Taj Gibson – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
30. Kris Humphries – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
31. Thaddeus Young – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
32. Boris Diaw – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
33. Antawn Jamison – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
34. Rashard Lewis – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
35. Anderson Varejao – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
36. Amir Johnson – PHI, @BOS, ATL (3)
37. Michael Beasley – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
38. Travis Outlaw – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
39. DeJuan Blair – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
40. Andray Blatche – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
41. Al Harrington – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
42. Drew Gooden – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
43. Darko Milicic – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
44. LaMarcus Aldridge – NOR, @NJN (2)
45. Marcus Camby – NOR, @NJN (2)
46. Andres Nocioni – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
47. Glen Davis – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
48. Blake Griffin – NOR, SAC, @PHO, UTA (4)
49. David Lee – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4) ***
50. Jeff Green – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4) ***
The cream is finally rising to the top here as Amar’e and David West assume spots in the top-10 while Bosh is closer than he’s been since the start of the season … McGee is known as a blocks specialist, but there has been a lot of emphasis recently by Flip on McGee improving the rebounding portion of his game. If you need proof, he grabbed 16 rebounds on Sunday … As much as I am skeptical of Humphries’ long-term value, there’s no denying that he’s got decent value as long as he’s starting and getting 25+ MPG … Griffin is 158th in per-game value. Let me repeat, 158th. He’s been even worse over the past two weeks (176). Rebounds are obviously his strength, but his only other categorical positives are in points and field-goal percentage. Not to mention his massive negative impact in free-throw percentage … Lee will miss at least one game (Monday), probably two.
CENTERS
1. Al Horford – BOS, @NJN, WAS, @NYK, TOR (5)2. Amar’e Stoudemire – CHA, @CHA, ATL, @DET (4)
3. Pau Gasol – CHI, @UTA, IND (3)
4. Serge Ibaka – MIN, DAL, @IND, @HOU (4)
5. Roy Hibbert – @MIA, CLE, OKC, @LAL (4)
6. Joakim Noah – @LAL, @PHO, @DEN, @SAC (4)
7. Luis Scola – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
8. Chris Bosh – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4)
9. Al Jefferson – SAC, NOR, LAL, @LAC (4)
10. Tim Duncan – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
11. Elton Brand – @WAS, @TOR, @MIA, NJN (4)
12. Kevin Love – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
13. JaVale McGee – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
14. Tyson Chandler – DET, @OKC, @SAS, MIA (4)
15. Brook Lopez – ATL, @BOS, @PHI, POR (4)
16. Channing Frye – @HOU, CHI, LAC, @DEN (4)
17. Dwight Howard – @SAS, MIA, CLE, @WAS (4)
18. Zach Randolph – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
19. Nene Hilario – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
20. Marc Gasol – DET, GSW, @CLE (3)
21. Emeka Okafor – @LAC, @UTA, @POR, SAS (4)
22. Andris Biedrins – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4)
23. Andrea Bargnani – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
24. Andrew Bogut – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
25. Anderson Varejao – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
26. Brad Miller – PHO, GSW, @CHA, OKC (4)
27. DeJuan Blair – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
28. Andray Blatche – PHI, @ATL, ORL (3)
29. Al Harrington – @GSW, CHI, PHO (3)
30. Drew Gooden – @CLE, @DET, CHA (3)
31. Darko Milicic – @OKC, SAS, GSW (3)
32. Nazr Mohammed – @NYK, NYK, HOU, @MIL (4)
33. Zydrunas Ilgauskas – IND, @ORL, PHI, @DAL (4)
34. Matt Bonner – ORL, @MIN, DAL, @NOR (4)
35. J.J. Hickson – @IND, MIL, @ORL, MEM (4)
36. Samuel Dalembert – @UTA, @LAC, CHI (3)
37. LaMarcus Aldridge – NOR, @NJN (2)
38. Marcus Camby – NOR, @NJN (2)
39. Glen Davis – @ATL, NJN, TOR (3)
40. David Lee – DEN, @HOU, @MEM, @MIN (4) ***
Ibaka and Hibbert are the real deal and I’m endorsing both as top-40 options moving forward. More on that here … Bogut’s elbow looks to be fine for now, but take his recent injury scare as a cue for you to start exploring the trade market. I have a feeling this one won’t end well … Ilgauskas will get extensive run with Udonis Haslem expected to be out until possibly after the All-Star break with a foot injury … Hickson is totally droppable in standard leagues as he looks to eventually fall out of the top-200 with another miserable week.
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