
Fantasy Forecast: Week 20
Week 20 of the NBA season means there are just six weeks left in the season and that also means fantasy playoff hopes are becoming a reality for some and a distant memory for others. Last week the Knicks set an NBA record, but I don’t think it will be one anyone is bragging about. The Knicks were 0-of-18 from downtown against the Nets on Saturday, setting the record for the most 3-pointers ever attempted in an NBA game without a single one made. Just look at the bottom three spots in your league standings and you now know exactly how those guys feel!
Injury Update: Chris Paul is hopeful he'll return by the end of March. "I don't care if I come back and there are three games left. I'm playing before the season is over," Paul said. "But I can't come back until I can help the team. I don't want to come back until I'm fully healed." Keep an eye on this closely because you will want to see exactly what happens with Darren Collison once Paul returns.
Also remember that the Rockets, Lakers and Suns play just two games this week.
Start Em'
PG – C.J. Watson: Monta Ellis is out with back problems, so Watson’s value is going to see a nice increase. He came off the bench on Saturday, but a lackluster performance is nothing to be concerned about. Over the past week Watson is averaging 16.8 points and 2.8 steals per contest to go along with an impressive 4.333 assists-to-turnover ratio.SG – Rodrigue Beaubois: Beaubois is not well known in fantasy leagues, but that is going to change. Jason Terry is out with a fractured orbital bone and Beaubois has stepped in and averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals and blocks over the past week. The only downside is his 38.2 FG percentage.
SF – Kevin Durant: Even with just three games this week, I’d start Durant as my #2 SF behind just Lebron James. On the season Durant is averaging 29.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and is shooting a sizzling 47.7 percent from the field. Durant is a legit top five pick next season for sure.
PF – Carl Landry: Landry’s value took a dip when he was traded from the Rockets to the Kings. But, Kings Coach Paul Westphal has made it clear that he wants to see Carl Landry's role increase; "I'd like to get him very involved throughout the game, not just the fourth quarter," Westphal said. Over the past week Landry is putting up 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds and that is exactly the kind of waiver wire player we all need for a fantasy playoff push.
C – Samuel Dalembert: In his three games over the past week, Dalembert has totaled 30 points, 29 rebounds and six blocks, which gives him an average of 10.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Those numbers are good enough to rank him in the top 25 for all fantasy players (in most formats) over the last week and I like him heading into a four-game schedule this week.
Sit Em'
PG – Steve Nash: With just two games this week, there is little damage Nash can do for playoff bound fantasy teams. Over the past month Nash is averaging 11.8 points and 11.5 assists a night, pretty good for a PG in any format. The problem there is you can project that out to just 21 points and 22 assists this week and that won’t cut the mustard for a week’s total.SG – Kobe Bryant: Bryant is still a top 3-5 player in the NBA, but he is a victim of the two-game week as well. Over the past week Bryant is averaging 25.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals, but he is shooting just 40.0 percent from the field over the same span. It is almost impossible to sit Bryant, but those in weekly transaction leagues may want to look at total games played this week over name-brand players.
SF – Hedo Turkoglu: Turkoglu injured his ankle last Monday and missed Sunday’s game because of it. Over the past week Turkoglu has averaged just 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting a salty 36.8 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line. Keep him on the bench this week just to be safe.
PF – Marcus Camby: Camby missed Saturday’s game due to an ankle injury and it is conjuring up memories of the old Cotton Camby fantasy owners are used to. When Camby gets injured you just never know when he will return, so I am going to get him out of all my line-ups this week and see if anything changes for week 21.
C – Luis Scola: Some might say that Scola is a no brainer to sit because he is a no-name player anyway; not true. Over the past month Scola is averaging 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds and he increased that over the past week by posting 18.3 points and 15.7 rebounds. The only reason I am sitting him is because of his two games this week.
James Morris hails from Rio Rancho, N.M., and has been playing fantasy sports since 1997. In addition to writing the Timberwolves Fantasy Forecast, Morris also writes fantasy articles for the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz as well as the NFL fantasy forecast for the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Diego Chargers. You can also find him on Twitter or listen to his radio show online at 101.7 FM in Albuquerque, NM.





















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