Week 21 (March 15-21) Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Lakers, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Utah, Washington Teams playing three games: L.A. Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto Teams playing two games: Dallas, Orlando, Portland

Toney Douglas (Knicks)- The last time Douglas started was on November 18th. Last Saturday he started and scored 21 points in helping the Knicks defeat the Mavs. He has played in at least 22 minutes the past four games and has 7 three-pointers in this span.

Jannero Pargo (Bulls)- Pargo started his first game of the season due to a wrist injury suffered to Derrick Rose. Pargo, scored a season high 20 points with 4 assists and 2 three-pointers. Rose should return tomorrow vs. the Grizziles.

Johan Petro (Nuggets)- Petro has started four straight games because of the injury to Keynon Martin. He is averaging 5.8 points, 7.8 rebounds .8 blocks as a starter.

Honorable mention: James Johnson (Bulls)

David Lee had 4 points ,2 rebounds and 1 assist in his All-Star debut as the East won 141-139. He only played 12 minutes and had  3 turnovers. Lee replaced Allen Iverson who missed the game due to personal reasons.

Lee was the first Knicks All-Star since 2001 and played in front of 108,713 fans. Lee said he wanted to score a basket and get a win so at least he accomplished both in his debut. Hopefully, Lee and LeBron James can be All-Stars for the Knicks next season.

Fantasy MVP: LeBron James (Cavs)

James is leading the league in points (29,9) and is  6th in assists (8.3). He also is averaging 1.9 threes, 1.6 steals and

1 block per game. He is shooting 50% from the field and is the second best free throw % of his career 77.6

Runner up: Kevin Durant (Thunder)

Least Valuable player: John Salmons (Bulls)

Salmons was traded to the Bulls last season and was expected to carry some of the load this year with Ben Gordon gone. He averaged 18.3 points and 1.9 threes per game while shooting 47% from the field and 81% from the line in 26 games. This season he is averaging 12.8 points, 1.4 threes and is shooting 41% from the field and 78% from the line.

Runner up: Gilbert Arenas (Wizards)

Biggest Fantasy Surprise: Zach Randolph (Grizzles)

Randolph has not missed a game this season playing in all 51 games. He is one of the main reasons Memphis is 26-25 and three games out of the 8th seed. The most games he has played in a season were 81 back …

Week 15 (Feb. 1-7)
Teams playing four games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, Portland, Sacramento, Washington
Teams playing three games: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah
Teams playing two games: Minnesota

George Hill (Spurs)- Tony Parker is expected to miss several games due to an ankle injury. Hill has averaged 15.6 points and 3.6 assists over his past five games. He also has played in at least 31 minutes in six of his past seven games.

Nicolas Batum (Blazers)- Batum has played in at least 26 minutes in his past three games. He is coming back from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him for most of the season.

Antoine Wright (Raptors)- Wright has 28 points, 11 rebounds and 6 three-pointers over his past two games. He has received more playing time due to injuries in the rotation.

Ryan Hollins (Timberwolves)- Hollins has started the past two games and has 35 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. …

1. Kevin Love and Chris Paul are back: Love made his first appearance of the season last Friday and has double-doubles in both games he has played. Last season as a rookie in 81 games he made 2 three-pointers. He already has four three-pointers and is becoming a very versatile player.

CP3 returned with a bang with 15 points, 15 assists, 8 steals, 6 rebounds, one three and one block in 38 minutes last Friday. He should resume his excellent play and the 8 steals was a great sign for the rest of the season.

2. Al Harrington is on fire: Al has scored 26, 27, 14 and 22 over his past four games with 7 three-pointers. He pulled down a season high 14 rebounds today and is having a solid all-around fantasy season.

3.Kevin Durant is having a fantasy MVP season: The third year forward is averaging 28.1 points, 7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.2 threes and .8 blocks per game. He has scored at least 33 points in three of his past four games and …

Week 7 (Dec. 7-13)
Teams playing four games: Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Minnesota, New Jersey, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah
Teams playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento
Teams playing two games: L.A. Clippers, Miami, New York, Washington

Guards

Chucky Atkins (Pistons)- Atkins scored a season high10 points vs. the Bucks last Friday. He has 4 three-pointers in seven games and has started four straight games.

Jordan Farmar (Lakers)- Farmar has scored in double-figures in three of his past four games. He has 17 three-pointers on the season and played a season high 24 minutes last Tuesday.

Honorable mention: Wayne Ellington (Timberwolves)

Forwards

Kevin Love (Timberwolves)- Love returned from injury last Friday and has a double-double and 4 three-pointers in the two games he has played. Last season in  his rookie year he made 2 three-pointers in 81 games.

Sam Young (Grizzles)- Young has scored 34 points over his last three …

1. Lou Williams and Trevor Ariza are overachieving: Williams scored a season high 30 points last Friday against the the Grizzles. On the season he is averaging 16.7 points, 5.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds. More importantly he is shooting 48% from the field. Ariza has scored at least 15 points in every game but one this season. On the season he is averaging 18.3 points per game but needs to increase his FG% if he wants reach to elite status. Ariza also has at least one steal in every game but one.

2. Drew Gooden is a must start: Gooden has started the past four games with Erick Dampier out and has 14.8 points, 13 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He is shooting 50% from the field and 81% from the line in 36 minutes.

3. Peja Stojakovic has become important again: Peja has scored at least 25 times in two of his past five games. He made a season high 7 three-pointers and pulled down 13 rebounds vs. the Suns last week. He has …

Who to draft: Jason Kidd vs. Devin Harris

The case for Kidd: In his first full year with the Mavericks, Kidd averaged 9 points, 8.7 assists (5th in the NBA), 6.2 rebounds 2 steals (3rd in the NBA) and 1.6 threes per game. On any given night Kidd has a solid chance of recording a triple-double. Dallas signed F Shawn Marion who was Kidd’s former teammate with the Phoenix Suns. Baring injury Kidd is a safe third round pick because of his contributions in assists, rebounds, and threes. The formet Net also turned the ball over just 2.28 times per game which was his lowest total since 96-97. He shot 46% from the field and averaged 11.4 points per game in 10 playoff games last season.

The case against Kidd: Since being traded to Dallas during the 07-08 season he has averaged 9.5 points during that span. He also has not shot over 44% from the field since the 98-99 season. Kidd is now 36 years old and the upside is very limited. He also rarely goes to the foul line attempting just 1.3 …

It’s so funny to me how reluctant the average fantasy basketball player is to accept change in fantasy standings, but also how quickly someone’s opinion will change based on something they hear or perceive. For example, let’s take the case of Kevin Durant. Long slated to be a mega-stud in the NBA, KD broke out on a torrent last year. Let’s take a look at his beastly totals from last year:

.476/.863 FG/FT%    452FTM, 97  Tre’s,     1871 Pts,  482 REB,  205AST, 96st,  53blocks

Averaging 25.3 ppg, Durant was a gem. He’s young, incredibly athletic, and the precision outside shooting from a 6′9 G/F makes him almost unstoppable when he’s hot.

All of a sudden, people are saying that Durant is better than Lebron James. Folks, these types of statements are absurd. Let’s break this down for a second. Lebron plays on a team with Mo Williams, Delonte West, Zydryunas IlGauskas……..all guys who can put the ball in the basket. Durant played with Russell Westbrook ( shot …

Gerald Wallace vs. Andre Iguodala

The case for Wallace: Wallace averaged a career high 7.8 rebounds to go along with 1.7 steals, .9 blocks, shot 48% from the field and 80% from the foul line. However, his fantasy potential should be based on the 14 games he in March where he averaged 19.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks and .9 threes per game. He also shot 58% from the field which is outstanding for a small forward. He cut down his turnovers from the previous season from 2.9 to 2.1.

The case against Wallace: His scoring dipped last year (down to 16.7 from 19.4) and has missed 43 regular season games the past three seasons due to injury. Head Coach Larry Brown might consider playing Wallace at the 4 which would hurt his fantasy value. He needs to raise his assists (2.7) if he wants to go ahead of Igudola.

The case for Igudola: Iggy has missed just six games in five seasons and has played in all 82 in four of them. Last season he …

DJ Mbenga- F/C  Los Angeles Lakers

Mbenga is one-half Belgian, one-half Congolese, and one-half useless. Perennially signed to intimidate opponents in the paint, the only person Mbenga intimidates is the closest reporter to the end of the bench, because that is where he sits for about 42 minutes every game. Unless you are in a 40 team league, stay away from the Belgian Bruiser.

Jerome James- C  Chicago Bulls

According to Chicago news wires, “Big Snacks” has cut back on the cheesesteaks and turned up his training regimen, and he’s hoping to make a dramatic comeback in 2009 and possibly scam one last team in free agency. Either way, the best logic is to stay away…..far, far away. The Knicks didn’t get that memo, but I hope you do.

Hamed Haddadi- C   Memphis Grizzlies

Hamed Haddadi might be the Prince of Persia, but in America his throne is a metal chair on the end on the bench. In fact, when the Lakers play the Grizzlies, not only do you get Gasol …

Fantasy Faceoff: Chauncey Billups or Jose Calderon

Both point guards are drafted in the second round and each bring different strengths to the table.

Case for Billups: Biliups continued his efficient play with the Nuggets last season averaging 17.7 points, 6.4 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 77 regular season games. He made 2.1 three per game which was his most since the 05-06 season. While his fg % is one of his drawbacks he shot 45% in 16 postseason games. Billups is almost automatic from the line shooting 91% and 92% the past two seasons.

Case against: He shot 42% from the field during the regular season and has turned the ball over at least two times per game the past three seasons. Billups turned 34 years old last month but he has not shown any sings of age yet.

Case for Calderon: Last season he averaged 12.8 points, 8.9 assists, 1.2 threes, 1.1 steals and shot 50% from the field and 98% from the foul line. The 29 year old is in his prime and recovered from …