SLOT | PLAYER, TEAM POS | ACTION | | GAMES: OPPONENTS | | LATEST REPORT... |
C | Pau Gasol, LAL PF, C | | | 6: Chi, @Sac, Uta, NY, Den, @Den | | Gasol (quadriceps) scored 16 points (5-10 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 5-6 FT) to go with seven rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes Monday. Spin: Given that he was allowed to play 30 minutes in a preseason game, we feel good about Gasol's quadriceps injury going forward. While he only took one three-pointer in Monday's game, Gasol may be asked by coach Mike Brown to take more long-range shots this season. Already a top-10 player, if Gasol were to start contributing in threes this season it would help him maintain his fantasy value. Lakers.com did a story on Gasol's ability to shoot threes last week. |
G | Brandon Jennings, Mil PG | | | 3: @Cha, Min, Wsh | | |
G | James Harden, OKC SG | | | 5: Orl, @Min, @Mem, Dal, Pho | | Harden told Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman that he expects to come off the bench for the Thunder this season. Spin: Despite only playing 26 minutes per game, Harden totaled 12.2 points per game and drilled 1.4 three-point attempts per game. It seemed like there was a possibility he could move into the starting shooting guard role in front of Thabo Sefolosha, but it looks like he'll stay in his bench-energizer role, meaning his minutes will limit his fantasy value. |
G | George Hill, Ind PG, SG | | | 4: Det, @Tor, Cle, @Det | | Hill went 1-for-7 from the field, scoring three points with one rebound and one assist in 19 minutes off the bench in Indiana's preseason loss to Chicago on Friday. Spin: Not a great homecoming for the former standout at IUPUI, but the Pacers were a rusty bunch Friday, combining to shoot just 33.7 percent from the field. Darren Collison got the start at point guard, and head coach Frank Vogel extended the bench some, limiting Hill's playing time on the night. We should see Hill get plenty of minutes once the regular season drops. |
G | Trevor Ariza, Nor SF, SG | | | 4: @Pho, Bos, Pho, @Sac | | Ariza had 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-2 FT), five assists, four steals, and a rebound in New Orleans' 97-90 exhibition win Friday at Memphis. Spin: Ariza displayed his one truly elite ability by swiping four Grizzlies passes in the victory. |
F | Al Jefferson, Uta C, PF DTD | | | 4: @LAL, @Den, Phi, @SA | | Jefferson started at power forward in Utah's preseason game against the Trailblazers on Monday. Spin: Jefferson, and several other player's effort was questioned by coach Tyrone Corbin after the preseason game against the Trailblazers. Jefferson scored just seven points on 3-of-7 shooting and had three rebounds in 18 minutes. |
F | Danilo Gallinari, Den SF, PF | | | 5: @Dal, Uta, @Por, @LAL, LAL | | Gallinari plans to return from his pro job in Milan in time for Nuggets camp which is expected to open Dec. 9, the Denver Post reports. Spin: Gallinari should be in good shape after having averaged 15.6 points in five Euroleague games. He enters the 2011-12 season as a decent bet to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Gallinari averaged 14.7 points in the 14 regular season games he played for the Nuggets last year after coming over in the Carmelo Anthony deal. |
F | Boris Diaw, Cha PF, SF | | | 4: Mil, Mia, Orl, @Mia | | Diaw is currently 305 pounds and is likely going to be the Bobcats starting center on opening night, the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell reports. He is currently 25 pounds over his normal playing weight and is likely to maintain that level in order to maintain the strength to play center. Spin: With Kwame Brown signing with the Warriors and DeSagana Diop (Achilles) injured, that leaves Diaw as the best option to start at center to begin the season. He has played center in the past for a high-speed system with many undersized players, so the Bobcats are probably going to continue pushing the ball like they did after Paul Silas took over the coaching job mid-season. Playing center could be strenuous for Diaw, and it could mean less minutes, points and assists than you would normally see from Diaw. |
F | Omri Casspi, Cle SF, SG DTD | | | 4: Tor, @Det, @Ind, NJ | | Casspi (sprained right knee) will not play in Cleveland's exhibition game Friday at Detroit, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Spin: Casspi hurt the knee in early August, but had recently been playing pickup games and felt great. |
UTIL | O.J. Mayo, Mem SG | | | 4: @SA, OKC, Hou, @Chi | | Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said the team is not actively trying to trade Mayo, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Spin: The Pacers have been coming after Mayo, reviving a trade that was discussed at last season's trade deadline involving Josh McRoberts and Brandon Rush for the Grizzlies' shooting guard. "Right now, we do not have any active effort going to trade O.J. Mayo," Heisley said. |
SLOT | PLAYER, TEAM POS | ACTION | | GAMES: OPPONENTS | | LATEST REPORT... |
Bench | Brendan Haywood, Dal C DTD | | | 5: Mia, Den, @OKC, Tor, @Min | | |
Bench | Wilson Chandler, FA SF, SG | | | | | Chandler has signed a contract with Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association, ESPN.com reports. The deal does not include an opt-out; Chandler will play the entire season in China even if the NBA lockout is settled. Spin: The Chinese league does not allow teams to offer opt-outs to locked-out NBA players; Chandler is the most significant free agent to sign an overseas deal without the option to return home when the lockout ends, though some writers have raised the possibility that he could be back for the 2012 postseason, as the Chinese season ends before the NBA's. |
Bench | Alec Burks, Uta SG | |