Joakim Noah leads the NBA in rebounds and is no where to be found on the 2010 All-Star ballot.His teammate Brad Miller is on the ballot considering he is averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds.

Noah leads the league with 12.6 rebounds and second with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game. He is tied for seventh in blocks per game (2.0) and is averaging a career high 12.1 points per game The third year player has posted eight double-doubles and five straight while shooting 55% from the field.

Noah is up against Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez, Andrea Bargnani and Al Horford in the East but his scrappy play should keep him in the mix. Noah attributes his improvement to bulking up and league experience. On November 7th and 10th he recorded career highs in points (21) and rebounds (21).

The Knicks won a game this week! And The Answer may be coming to New York (so the question must be: Will a desperate team do anything to keep their fans interested?). But with last Friday’s loss, the Knicks established the worst 10-game start in franchise history. Things could be a lot worse, though; here are some other bad starts throughout history that may help them feel better about themselves: The Hindenburg blew up over New Jersey on the first of its 10 scheduled round-trips between Europe and the United States, killing 36 people; the Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk four days into its maiden voyage; William Henry Harrison died of a cold one month into his presidency in 1841; Wally Backman lasted four days as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks before he was unceremoniously shown the door; Gilligan’s three-hour tour got off to an inauspicious start, getting stranded on a deserted island for 15 years, until the castaways were miraculously rescued, followed by them buying …

1. Brandon Jennings is the real deal: In two games last week Jennings has scored 87 points with 14 assists. So far this season he is averaging 25 points (8th in the NBA), 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. He also is shooting 49% from the field, 83% from the foul line and has 17 three-pointers. In a 8-cat league his fantasy value equals the 10th overall player.

2. Marc Gasol has been playing like his brother: Gasol  pulled down 16 rebounds last Saturday for the second time this season. He is averaging 14.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Also he is shooting 56% from the field and 78% from the line. He is looking like one of the biggest steals in the draft.

3. Danny Granger is showing why he was a top 4th pick: The Pacers upset the Celtics last Friday and Granger was a big part of that with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 6 three-pointers. His rebounding has increase with Troy Murphy sidelined.

4. Chris Bosh …

Week 4 (Nov. 16-22)
Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Portland, Toronto
Teams playing three games: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Utah, Washington
Teams playing two games: Minnesota

Darren Collison (Hornets)- With the injury to Chris Paul, Collison started at point guard and had 10 points, 4 steals and 2 steals in 25 minutes last Saturday. Paul could be out for about a month which increases the value of the rookie.

Marcus Thorton (Hornets)- Thorton should  receive extended minutes off the bench with the injury to Paul. Thorton has scored 32 points over in last two games including a career high 20 last Friday.

C.J. Watson (Warriors)- Watson scored a season high 19 points vs. the Knicks last Friday. He is shooting 51% from the field and averaging a steal per game.

Wes Matthews (Jazz)- Matthews has scored in double-figures in four of his past six games. Deron Williams has missed the past two games which …

The Yankees win the World Series and as soon as you can say the words “Johnny Damon wants a four-year contract” the rest of the New York–area teams go down the tubes. They went a combined 5-11 this past week. It must be a hangover. Are all the local teams riding on the Yankees’ coattails and going to all of their parties? It’s also possible that many of the area teams just stink. The Knicks and Nets went a combined 0-7 this week, and are 1-16 for the year, for instance. It was only the always-good Devils that skewed the combined record by going 4-0, and they barely count as a local team.

Here’s a day-by-day look at the past seven days.

Friday: The injury-riddled Nets lost to Philly, which kept them winless for the season, and the Devils beat the Islanders in a continuation of the New Jersey–Long Island War of 1801, in which it was so cold and icey out during the Battle of Massapequa that both sides just gave up …

Guards

Toney Douglas (Knicks)- Douglas scored a career high 23 points in 36 minutes vs. the Hawks on Wedesnday. He scored 16 and 21 points in his previous two games and has made nine three-pointers on the season.

Rudy Fernandez (Trailblazers)- Fernandez has played inconsistent minutes all season but has 13 three-pointers and is averaging 1.78  steals per game.

Kyle Lowry (Rockets)- Lowry is averaging 8 points, 5.12 assists and 1 steal off the bench. He has played in at least 24 minutes in every game but two this season and has three games of at least eight assists.

Honorable mention: Devin Brown (Hornets)

Forwards

Jared Dudley (Suns)- Dudley has scored in double figures in five of his past six games. He has 18 three-pointers on the season and is averaging 1.30 steals per game.

JJ Hickson (Cavs)- Hickson scored a season high 18 points in 31 minutes vs. the Heat yesterday. He is starting over Anderson Varejo which means he could provide a decent amount of points and rebounds.

Taj Gibson (Bulls)- Gibson has scored in double figures in three of his …

1. Head Coach Mike D’Antoni has assembled four different starting lineups in nine games.

2. Their opponents have scored over 100+ points in every game but one (Jazz)

3. Opponents are shooting 49% from the field and averaging 109 points per game  (2nd and 3rd worst in NBA)

4. NY is shooting 29% from three (27th in NBA)

5. Starting PG Chris Duhon is shooting 26% from the field and needs to be benched

6. Four of their eight eight losses have been by 12 points or more.

What i would like to see the Knicks do:

1) Start Toney Douglas, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, David Lee, Jordan Hill…Al Harrington has been effective off the bench

2) Play better defense

3) Buy out Jared Jeffries

Teams playing four games: Dallas, Golden State, Houston, L.A. Clippers, Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto, Utah
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Bobcats, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, San Antonio
Teams playing two games: Indiana, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Washington

Guards

Ronald “Flip” Murray (Bobcats)- Murray made his season debut scoring 15 points and pulling down six rebounds last Friday. With the Bobcats struggling on offense Murray should receive consistent playing time and is a good source for threes.

Jose Juan Barea (Mavs)- Barea recorded a season high 12 assists against the Raptors last Saturday. He is averaging nine points in the season and has played in at least 23 minutes in four of the team’s six games.

Will Bynum (Pistons)- Bynum continues his strong play off the bench as he filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and two steals on Sunday. He has played at least 28 minutes over his last four games because of an injury to Richard …

1. Joakim Noah and Roy Hibbert are fantasy forces: Noah is seventh in the league in rebounding with 11 per game. He is also sixth in blocks with 2.3 per game and is shooting 60% from the field. He is coming off a season high 21 points and enjoying a breakout season in his third year.

Hibbert is also averaging a double-double with 11 points and 10.4 rebounds. He is blocking 2.8 shots (second in the league) per game and is shooting 52% from the field.

Also Brendan Haywood: 11.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

2. Tim Duncan is what we expected: Duncan has scored more than 20 points in just one game so far. While he has strong rebounding and blocks numbers he has played 30 or fewer minutes in three games. He is shooting 56% from the line and is not living up to his second round selection.

3. Chris Kaman is excelling: Kaman has scored at least 20 points in six straight games and  averaging 23 in the season. To go along with …

Here are five things worth noting in week one

1) Carmelo Anthony is playing like the MVP: Melo leads the NBA in scoring with 37.7 points per game and has scored at least 40 points in two straight games. He also has attempted 41 free throws and averaging 7 rebounds per game. The Nuggets are 3-0 including wins over Utah and Portland. If he continues this all season he moves into the first round next season.

2) Gilbert Arenas is back: Arenas had a season high 31 points vs. the Nets on Halloween. He also shot 69% from the field and attempted 12 free throws. In three games this season he is averaging 28 points, 6.7 threes, 2.3 threes and 1 steal per game. He was drafted in the late second-early third in most drafts which looks like a steal now.

3) Trevor Ariza and Aaron Brooks are fantasy gold: Ariza scored a season high 33 points last Saturday and has made 11 three-pointers in three games. He is averaging 23.3 points, 1.7 steals in 38 minutes per …

Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah, Washington
Teams playing three games: Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, Toronto
Teams playing two games: San Antonio

Guards

Rafer Alston (Nets): Harris is expected to miss a week with a groin injury. Alston started at point guard and had 20 points, eight assists, three 3 pointers and one steal in 31 minutes on Saturday. Even though he will be a starter temporarily he is a solid short-term point guard to own.

Juan Jose Barea (Mavs): Barera is averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and shooting 93% from the foul line in three games. In his last two games he has played at least 23 minutes and will continue to get time with Josh Howard sidelined.

Larry Hughes (Knicks): Hughes did not play in the first two games but received extended minutes in the home opener with an injury to Nate Robinson. Robinson could miss up to two …

Week 1 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1)
Teams playing four games: Boston, Cleveland, L.A. Clippers, Portland
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington
Teams playing two games: Golden State, Indiana, Milwaukee, Utah

Guards

Chris Douglas-Roberts (Nets- owned 3% in ESPN leagues): CDR had a big preseason averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1.4 steals in 34 minutes over seven games. With the Nets trading G Vince Carter away in the off-season Roberts should play a big role on the offense.

Brandon Rush (Pacers-0wned 9.2%): Rush is entering the season as the Pacers starting shooting guard. He averaged 12.4 points, 1.3 blocks and 1 steal over seven preseason games. However, his value is his range as he knocked down 14 three pointers.

Anthony Morrow (Warriors-owned 11.7%): Morrow finished second in the preseason with 22 points per game. He also shot an excellent 52% from three and attempted 6.5 per …