Fantasy basketball notes from Friday games
BY ADAM RONIS
This is why Jermaine O'Neal slipped in drafts. He strained his left knee after a flagrant foul and left the game. He missed half the season last year because of the same knee that he had surgery on. If O'Neal misses time, it just makes Andrea Bargnani an even better pickup. He had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five three-pointers. He should be picked up now that he's starting, even if he will be inconsistent.
Tracy McGrady had 20 points, four rebounds, four three-pointers and three assists. Trade him now!!!!!
Jason Thompson had another good game with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Ramon Sessions had 15 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals. He came off the bench and it was against the Knicks. He's getting enough minutes off the bench, but keep in mind Michael Redd is still out. The only hope for his minutes going up is for him to overtake Luke Ridnour as the starter.
Charlie Villanueva returned from a hamstring injury and had 20 points and six rebounds and shot 8-for-12 in just 13:28. He's still coming off the bench and played a depleted Knicks teams, so don't look into this too much. See how his minutes are distributed the next few games.
D.J. Augustin had 26 points, seven three's and seven assists. Raymond Felton had six points and five assists and could lose his starting job to Augustin, who started because Jason Richardson remains sidelined.
Rasho Nesterovic shot just 3 of 14 from the field, but he was going up against Dwight Howard. Nesterovic had six points, nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block, so even with a poor shooting night, he still helped. He's playing a lot of minutes and should be owned in most leagues.
Roger Mason had 29 points, seven three's, and four rebounds.
Greg Oden came off the bench again and played 18:56. he had seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and shot 3 of 6. He had four fouls.
Russell Westbrook had 15 points on 5 of 14. He should eventually become the starting point guard at some point this season, but he will hurt your field goal percentage and turns the ball over a lot.
Al Horford returned from a sprained ankle and had four points and four rebounds.
Randy Foye got his starting job back and had four points, and one assist on 2-for-12. It came against the Celtics, so be patient.
Derrick Rose left the game late in the fourth quarter with an injury to his left side. He had 25 points and five assists. Larry Hughes started with Luol Deng out due to a hamstring injury and had 26 points, five three's, four rebounds and four assists.
Yao Ming returned and had 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
Mickael Piertrus returned from an injury and had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Kelenna Azubuike didn't play because of a sprained knee. The addition of Jamal Crawford hurts Azubuike.
Josh Howard didn't play because of an ankle injury.
Deron Williams hopes to return on Wednesday.
Mike D'Antoni told Stephon Marbury there were 30-35 minutes available for him to play and Marbury declined to enter the game.
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