STUDS

Josh Smith – G/F – Atlanta Hawks
26 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 1 three (Matrix Reloaded? Sure looks like it. JSmoov has been playing like Shawn Marion’s twin lately, and it’s become pretty obvious that this kid is the future of the Atlanta Hawks organization. Even with scoring machine Joe Johnson out with a calf injury, Smith hasn’t missed a beat and has actually picked up his game in Johnson’s absence. Smith’s 17 boards were a career high, and his double-double was his 23rd of the season. This breakout season should solidify Smith as a late first-round, early second-round pick in next season’s fantasy draft.)

Jamaal Tinsley – G – Indiana Pacers
37 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 threes, 4 steals (Tinsley’s got some off-court issues, there’s no question about that. But when on court, it’s hard to complain with a guy who picks up the slack and drops 37 points. Tins has had some problems lately; first there was the bar brawl, then he was recently suspended a game by the Pacers for consistently being tardy to practice, and to top it off he’s been having some lingering left leg issues. With all that stacked up against him, no way would you have predicted a monster line like this! With Jermaine O’Neal definitely out Wednesday night, and Jeff Foster possibly as well, so look for Tinsley to pick up the scoring duties again tonight against the Wizards.)

Allen Iverson – G – Denver Nuggets
31 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 three, 1 block (AI was an all-around stat buster Tuesday night against the Trail Blazers. The Answer recorded his 11th double-double of the season and he was money from the charity stripe, hitting 14-of-16. Steve Blake had been hurting AI’s assist totals, but Blake has recently cooled off, which has allowed Iverson to man the distribution duties.)

Kevin Garnett – F/C – Minnesota Timberwolves
30 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists (Poor KG. The guy’s one of the most consistent players in the NBA, he’s a stat-filling maniac game in, game out, but his Wolves are just sinking . . . fast. He also leads the league in double-doubles, and was one board shy of another Tuesday night against the Pacers. The Big Ticket is averaging 31 ppg in the past two contests and should continue his dominance. If you’re a KG owner, rejoice; if you’re a TWolves fan like me, sob.)

LaMarcus Aldridge –F/C – Portland Trail Blazers
24 points, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 assists (The rook went off again Monday night against the Nuggets, pulling down 17 boards with 10 on the offensive side. You never know when he’s going to erupt, but it’s safe to say that Aldridge should be owned in all formats. If he’s available in your league, and you need a starting big man, snatch him before he’s gone.)

DUD

Ricky Davis – G/F – Minnesota Timberwolves
3 points, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 rebound, 1-for-11 from the field (Davis was u.g.l.y. Monday night against the Pacers. He was terrible from the field, hitting only one-of-11 shots, and couldn’t control the ball much either, turning it over four times. Davis is a streaky player, but this is well below his average.)

PHOTO CREDIT: AP Photo/Gregory Smith

Technorati Tags: NBA, Josh Smith, Jamaal Tinsley, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, LaMarcus Aldridge, Ricky Davis, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Jermaine O’Neal, Jeff Foster, Washington Wizards, Steve Blake

STUDS

Vince Carter – G/F – New Jersey Nets
30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 threes, 1 block, 1 steal (I wasn’t “fortunate” enough to pick Carter in any of my fantasy drafts this season, but I’ve got some friends who were “lucky” enough to snag him. From the sound of it, I’m not sure I’d want entrust my entire fantasy season to Carter and his sporadic shooting touch. My buds are pretty much nauseous from the Vinsanity roller coaster ride. When you need him to catch fire, he bottoms out, and when you’re in the lead, he goes off. It doesn’t make much sense, and the only thing that does is how inconsistent his lines are. The dude is one of the elite all-stars of the NBA and it’s hard to complain, but a little regularity would be nice. Monday night’s double-double is a great start so ride him while he’s clicking.)

Leandro Barbosa – G – Phoenix Suns
32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 threes, 3 assists (You might not have guessed it from the start of the season, but Leandro Barbosa has become one of the top fantasy guards in ’06-07. Coming off the bench, Barbosa is averaging a cool 17.5 points per game, and in the last four he’s scoring 23.5 ppg. Because the Suns weren’t able to mold an every-night backup point guard behind Steve Nash, Barbosa heeded the call and has become the entire team’s backup. He’s averaging more than 30 minutes a game, which basically puts him at “starter” status. He’s got to be one of the leading candidates for this season’s Sixth Man of the Year, and it’s hard to say if there’s a better option; the only I can think of would be Manu Ginobili since he’s coming off the bench, but it’s hard to say if he’ll be eligible.)

Dwight Howard – F/C – Orlando Magic
26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal (The Man Child has been absent from this list for some time—probably because his Magic are slumping—but he hit it up in style with his 46th double-double of the season; Howard is second in the NBA behind Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett who has 54 double-doubles. The Magic fell to the Bobcats Monday night, and now are one game behind the New York Knicks for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. With the way the Knicks have been playing, it’s hard to say if the Magic stand a chance.)

Chris Bosh – F/C – Toronto Raptors
25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks (After cooling off a few games last week, Bosh is back! Like his double-double boys Dwight and KG, Bosh posted another Monday night as the Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 108-93; it was the 20th time this season Bosh posted 20 points and 10 rebounds. With the Raptors playing four times this week, sit back and relax, because the Chris Bosh Show is on.)

Derek Anderson – G/F – Charlotte Bobcats
24 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 threes, 1 steal, 1 block (Huh!? Derek Anderson!? What gives? Actually, before I delve into the mad skillz of D.Anderson, let me just congratulate the Charlotte Bobcats for snapping an eight game losing streak! Hooray, they can win without Emeka Okafor in the lineup! Back to D.A. Anderson was originally benched to start the contest, but must have not taken the demotion lightly and went off. The dude’s averaging 20 ppg in the past two, but if you remove the eye liner you’ll see that he was only averaging 5.1 ppg the previous five. Don’t expect too many lines like this from the vet, but until Okafor returns, the sky’s the limit.)

DUD

Mike Miller – G/F – Memphis Grizzlies
7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 three (As I posted a couple weeks ago in my Trade Bait column, Miller is a great sell-high candidate because he’s bound to fall back to earth at any moment. Because he’s a three-point sniper, his point totals can shoot through the roof, but living by the three also means you can die by the three. Miller’s averaging 5.4 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game, so recording two in both categories is way below normal. He’ll bounce back, have patience.)

PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Technorati Tags: NBA, Vince Carter, Leandro Barbosa, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Derek Anderson, Mike Miller, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Emeka Okafor

STUDS

Yao Ming – C – Houston Rockets
37 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists (It was only a matter of time. Yao punished the Magic Sunday afternoon, throwing down 37 points, and it’s safe to assume his injured leg is yesterday’s news. The 7-footer had been getting banged up repeatedly since returning, but look for great things now that he’s got his legs back under him. With a four-game week starting tonight, ride the big man while he’s hot.)

Ray Allen – G/F – Seattle Supersonics
36 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists (So much for the ankle spurs. Allen miraculously has kept the train a rollin’ even though he should probably be having surgery. He’s averaging 30 points per game since missing March 1st with an ankle injury that was supposed to keep sidelined the rest of the season. He’s playing great ball right now and as an owner you can only hope the production keeps up.)

Gilbert Arenas – G – Washington Wizards
33 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 threes, 1 steal, 1 block (Arenas has seemingly righted the ship, posting five straight games with 25 points or more. Sunday afternoon Agent Zero’s Wizards lost a heartbreaker to the Heat 106-104. What’s important from a fantasy standpoint was Arenas’ improved shooting touch; he was 7-of-16 from the field, 3-of-6 from long-range, and 16-of-17 from the charity stripe. With Caron Butler slumping, Arenas has picked up the slack; it must not be enough, though, because Washington is on a three-game skid. They face the Pacers Wednesday night and have a good chance of beating the struggling Indiana team who are riding a nine-game losing streak.)

Mike Bibby – G – Sacramento Kings
34 points, 5 threes, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds (Bibby topped 30 points for the sixth time this season Sunday afternoon against the Nuggets. Mr. Kermit the Frog has been up and down all year and is considered one of the major fantasy busts of the season. But throughout the latter half of February and into March he’s been on a scoring binge that has somewhat salvaged his rough season. Ride Bibby while he’s hot this week as the Kings play four games on the road.)

T.J. Ford – G – Toronto Raptors
25 points, 13 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals (Ford is having a career season with Toronto, scoring 13.9 points per game and dishing out 7.7 assists per game. He recorded his 14th double-double of the season Sunday afternoon in the Raptors’ overtime win against the Sonics.)

DUD

Paul Pierce – G/F – Boston Celtics
8 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2-for-14 from the field (I thought about throwing Caron Butler on this list again, but he’s my boy and I’m starting to feel for him. Pierce on the other hand has yet to appear, and his letdown of a line Sunday afternoon against the Bulls was very Dud-worthy. The Bulls contained both Pierce and Al Jefferson, and it was the Truth’s worst game since returning from an elbow injury.)

PHOTO CREDIT: GettyImages/Kent Smith

Technorati Tags: NBA, Yao Ming, Ray Allen, Gilbert Arenas, Mike Bibby, T.J. Ford, Paul Pierce, Houston Rockets, Seattle Supersonics, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Caron Butler, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Al Jefferson

STUDS

Al Jefferson – F/C – Boston Celtics
31 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal (Big Al was questionable coming into Friday’s game against the Sonics with a strained right arch, so the stat-stuffing line he put up came out of nowhere. This once lowly Boston squad has recently come to life, thanks in part to the efforts of Jefferson and Paul Pierce. Jefferson is averaging a cool 25.8 ppg and 15.3 rebounds in March.)

Tracy McGrady – G/F – Houston Rockets
34 points, 5 assists, 3 threes, 4 rebounds, 1 steal (Nearly back to full strength, the Rockets steamrolled the Nets Friday night 112-91. TMac’s 34 points marked the 18th time this season he’s passed 30 points in a game. With Yao back down low, McGrady hasn’t been the sole focal point for opposing defenses, allowing him to open things up outside. “We have a low-post presence now, something we’ve been missing,” McGrady said. “It’s great to have him (Yao) back. In order for us to win in the playoffs, we’re going to have to have that.”

Shaquille O’Neal – C – Miami Heat
32 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists (What is this, a return to the late ’90s? Shaq’s back! Diesel is cookin’ lately and seems unstoppable. He’s picked up the slack in a big way since Wade’s injury and is playing like he’s still with the ’99 Lakers. His 32 points were a season high, and he’s been shooting 61 percent from the field since the start of February.)

Andre Iguodala – G/F – Philadelphia 76ers
31 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 threes, 2 steals (Kobe’s return from a one-game suspension was spoiled by Iguodala Friday night. Iggy is scoring 18.2 ppg this season, and he’s averaged 24.6 through the last seven contests. The Sixers have now won six in a row and it goes without saying that AI2’s recent play is the main reason why.)

Mike Miller – G/F – Memphis Grizzlies
29 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 threes, 1 block (Miller had the hot hand, scoring 22 of his 29 points in the second half of Friday night’s loss against Atlanta. Miller also had a chance for some late-game heroics when the game clock was about to expire and he fired up a long-distance three that would have won the game only to see the ball hit the front of the rim. “Mike had a good look at the end of the game, but the shot just didn’t go down,” said Coach Tony Barone. “I would have him take that shot every night.”)

DUDS

Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson, Randy Foye, Mike James – Minnesota Timberwolves
(If you’ve been able to understand the quagmire that is the Minnesota Timberwolves starting point guard position, please fill me in, because I’m lost. Four guys are competing for minutes and a different guy starts on any given night. They’ve all performed as below average players this season, with Foye having the greatest upside for the long run. James it just waiting out the season before he’s moved and Jaric has been pretty much a bust any way you look at it. Somebody needs to play the point, but the risk of guessing which dud is going to get the nod is like pulling teeth. I’d advise avoiding these guys altogether.)

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Cash Money(Players who’ve recently cashed in on new contracts.)

• Linebacker Adalius Thomas signed with the New England Patriots on a six-year, $35 million contract. Thomas was one of the top free agents this off-season, and he was snagged by the Pats for chump change considering what he’s worth. His versatility will allow the 29-year-old to line up in multiple formations, which should help strengthen New England’s D.

• Cornerback Nate Clements signed with the San Francisco 49ers on an eight-year, $80 million contract that makes him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Clements has been an average starter at best in his four-year career, but look for good things from the 49ers D with the trio of Clements, Shawntae Spencer, and Walt Harris.

• Running back Willis McGahee was acquired from the Buffalo Bills by the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for third- and seventh-round picks this season, and a third-round pick in ’08. McGahee is an average back, but he’ll have a solid o-line in front of him in Baltimore. Musa Smith resigned with the Ravens a few days ago, so look for him to fill in as the team’s third-down back.

• Running back Ahman Green signed with the Houston Texans on a four-year, $22 million contract that includes $6.5 million in guarantees. Green is 30 years old and borderline past his prime. The Texans obviously saw something in Batman, who will play again under direction of assistant head coach Mike Sherman who coached Green while with the Packers. Don’t expect much from Ahman as his carries will probably drop and he’ll be forced to compete with a laundry list of reserves that include Wali Lundy, Samkon Gado, Chris Taylor, and possibly Ron Dayne if he’s resigned.

• Quarterback Jeff Garcia signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year, $7 million contract. With Jake Plummer looking to be out of the picture, Garcia will enter an intense battle with Chris Simms for starting QB rights. Garcia and head coach Jon Gruden are long time buds, and Garcia’s knowledge of the West Coast offense should only help his case. Expect the Bucs to go after a big name wideout like Calvin Johnson in the draft now that JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn are out of the picture.

• Wide receiver Drew Bennett signed with the St. Louis Rams on a six-year, $30 million contract that includes $9.5 million guaranteed. Bennett will likely man the slot, with Torry Holt and the aging wonder Isaac Bruce at outside. Bennett should move to No. 2 in 2008, but will have to wait it out in 2007. He could have easily signed with another team as a starting wide receiver, but he should still have more value than in Tennessee. The combination of Holt, Bruce, and Bennett makes up one the top receiving corps’ in the league, which should only increase the value of quarterback Marc Bulger.

• Running back Thomas Jones signed with the New York Jets on a long-term deal that includes $12 million in guaranteed money. Kevan Barlow’s already been dumped and Cedric Houston could be on his way, so Thomas Jones and Leon Washington should combine to make a great one-two duo with Washington to be used primarily as the third-down back.

• Running back Travis Henry signed with the Denver Broncos on a five-year, $22.5 million contract. This signing is huge for everybody. It’s huge for Henry, huge for the Broncos, and huge for fantasy owners. Henry should become the next 1,000-yard-plus running back in Denver and should face little competition besides Mike Bell, who could be used primarily as a third-down back now that Henry’s in town.

• Defensive lineman Patrick Kerney signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a six-year, $39.5 million contract that guarantees $19.5 million. Kerney was out much of ’06 after tearing his pectoral muscle while with Atlanta. His signing should bolster Seattle’s front line significantly.

• Linebacker Joey Porter signed with the Miami Dolphins on a five-year, $32 million contract that includes a $12 million signing bonus. Porter talks the talk, but he comes up short walking the walk. He’ll replace Donnie Spragan, but it’s hard to say if he’ll have any fantasy worth in IDP leagues.

• Linebacker London Fletcher-Baker signed with the Washington Redskins on a five-year, $25 million contract that includes a $10.5 million signing bonus. Fletcher played under Washington’s D-coordinator Gregg Williams in Buffalo, so expect a happy marriage. Fletcher has taken heat for his weakness at providing run support, and at age 32, it’s hard to say if his best years are behind him. All I know is that I started him every week in my IDP league and he never burnt me once.

• Wide receiver Joe Horn signed with the Atlanta Falcons on a multi-year contract of at least three years. Horn is 35 years old, but he’s a proven leader. He’s passed his prime as at top-20 receiver, but he should fit in nicely with Bobby Petrino’s vertical offense.

• Running back Jamal Lewis signed with the Cleveland Browns on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Lewis has passed his prime and has averaged 3.47 yards per carry the last two seasons. Since he only signed a one-year deal, it’s hard to say whether the Browns will go after Adrian Peterson in the draft. In any event, look for Reuben Droughns to be dumped in the next few days.

• Tight end Randy McMichael signed with the St. Louis Rams on a three-year, $9 million contract. The Rams must be looking to re-create the Greatest Show on Turf, now with Holt, Bruce, Drew Bennett, and McMichael. McMichael played under Coach Scott Linehan in Miamin in 2005, so expect a smooth transition. At the same time, tight end Joe Klopfenstein’s value has significantly decreased with McMichael in town.

• Offensive guard Leonard Davis signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a seven-year, $49.6 million contract that includes a $16 million signing bonus and $18.75 million in guarantees. Talk about throwing around the big bucks for the big man. Davis was somewhat of a bust for Arizona, but Dallas tends to dish out the dough, even for busts.

• Running back Sammy Morris signed with the New England Patriots on a four-year, $7 million contract. Morris filled in valiantly in Miami when Ronnie Brown was injured, so look for him to play back-up to rising stud Laurence Maroney.

• Wide receiver Ashley Lelie signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a two-year, $4.3 million contract. The 49ers got Lelie for pennies and he should excel in San Fran.

• Wide receiver Wes Welker was acquired by the New England Patriots for a second- and seventh-round draft pick. He signed a five-year, $18.1 million contract. Welker is a versatile wideout whose value will most likely increase while in New England. He has a good chance of becoming an every down starter, but should also find himself returning punts.

• Tight end David Martin signed with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $3.57 million contract. Martin has had some injury issues in his past while with Green Bay, but he could prove to be a major upgrade over the drop-prone Randy McMichael.

• Kicker Jay Feely signed with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $6 million contract. The Dolphins are expected to release Olindo Mare any day now, and Feely will compete with Josh Huston for the starting job. Feely should have considerable worth, as far as kickers go, this fantasy season.

• Tight end Daniel Graham signed with the Denver Broncos on a five year, $30 million contract. Graham caught 21 passes last year for 235 yards and two touchdowns with the Pats. The Broncos now have two quality tight ends in Graham and Tony Scheffler who’ll be competing for balls. Look for Graham to be a focal point in the Broncos running game in front of newly acquired Travis Henry.

• Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year, $8.7 million contract that includes a $2.9 million signing bonus. Bain is a special teams hero, but he’ll likely be a second-teamer.

• Linebacker Brian Simmons signed with the New Orleans Saints on a three-year deal with terms still disclosed. Simmons will help bolster the Saints’ already strong defense.

• Linebacker Napoleon Harris signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a six-year deal. The Chiefs run a Cover-2 D, the same defense used last year by the Vikes under D-coordinator Mike Tomlin. Harris is likely to play middle linebacker and should have a smooth transition.

• Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson re-signed with the team on an eight-year, $60 million contract.

Tick-Tock: (“Bigger” name players who’ve yet to sign.)

• Running back Dominic Rhodes

• Wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth

• Linebacker Donnie Edwards

• Linebacker Cato June

• Wide receiver Eric Moulds

• Running back Corey Dillon

• Running back Chris Brown

• Linebacker Kawika Mitchell

• Wide receiver Kennan McCardell

• Wide receiver Travis Taylor

• Quarterback Matt Schaub

• Quarterback Drew Bledsoe

• Quarterback Aaron Brooks

• Running back Correll Buckhalter

• Running back Ron Dayne

• Running back T.J. Duckett

• Wide receiver Kevin Curtis

Technorati Tags: Adalius Thomas, New England Patriots, Nate Clements, San Franciso 49ers, Shawntae Spencer, Walt Harris, Willis McGahee, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Musa Smith, Ahman Green, Houston Texans, Mike Sherman, Green Bay Packers, Wali Lundy, Samkon Gado, Chris Taylor, Ron Dayne, Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chris Simms, Jake Plummer, Calvin Johnson, JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Drew Bennett, St. Louis Rams, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Marc Bulger, Thomas Jones, New York Jets, Leon Washington, Travis Henry, Denver Broncos, Mike Bell, Patrick Kerney, Seattle Seahawks, Joey Porter, Miami Dolphins, London Fletcher, Washington Redskins, Joe Horn, Atlanta Falcons, Bobby Petrino, Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns, Adrian Peterson, Reuben Droughns, Randy McMichael, Joe Klopfenstein, Sammy Morris, Ronnie Brown, Ashley Lelie, Wes Welker, David Martin, Jay Feely, Olindo Mare, Josh Huston, Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, Tully Banta-Cain, Brian Simmons, New Orleans Saints, Napoleon Harris, Kansas City Chiefs, Andre Johnson, Dominic Rhodes, Donte’ Stallworth, Donnie Edwards, Cato June, Eric Moulds, Bobby Engram, Corey Dillon, Chris Brown, Kawika Mitchell, Kennan McCardell, Travis Taylor, Matt Schaub, Drew Bledsoe, Aaron Brooks, Corell Buckhalter, T.J. Duckett, Kevin Curtis

STUDS

Andre Iguodala – G/F – Philadelphia 76ers
25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists (I was getting sick of crowning LeBron James stud of the night game after game. He is the king, so it comes with the territory, but widen the competition and give some ballas a chance! Taking the top spot Thursday morning is AI2, who shredded the Seattle Supersonics Wednesday night with a monstrous triple-double; his third of the year, and second to Jason Kidd who has 10. Iguodala is averaging 21.8 ppg through the past six games and he’s clearly no longer a buy-low candidate as he’s solidified his fantasy value.)

LeBron James – F – Cleveland Cavaliers
41 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 three (Since becoming the face of Microsoft, LeBron has been a machine; I’m not talking about the Short Circuit kind either. King James has owned the second half of the NBA season and is averaging 33.8 ppg in the past eight games. He’s scored more than 30 points in the past five games straight and has pushed the Cavs within two games of the top spot in the East. Can the King be contained? Doubt it.)

Allen Iverson – G – Denver Nuggets
35 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 three (With ’Melo out Wednesday night against the Warriors attending to his newborn son, AI was money, cashing in 35 points and six boards. The Nuggets got smoked in the contest and Iverson was the only player who bothered to show up. Expect Denver to bounce back once Anthony returns, which should be this Friday; that is unless Coach George Karl follows through with his threat to bench the first-time daddy because he shoots way too much. In any event, the Nuggets will go up against the Pistons Friday, so expect a hard-fought battle.)

Gerald Wallace – G/F – Charlotte Bobcats
22 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block (The Cats are struggling, big time. Crash has been on a tear without Emeka Okafor and Sean May in the lineup, but it’s hard to say how long his body will hold up. Keep riding him while he’s hot, but beware, he’s named Crash for a reason.)

Shaquille O’Neal – C – Miami Heat
24 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block (Diesel continues to dominate. He was one board shy of a double-double and two assists and a board from a triple-double Wednesday night against the Bulls. Miami is 5-2 without Dwyane Wade and looks to stay hot. Shaq is at the top of his game right now and should continue to lead this Miami team into the playoffs.)

DUD

Kobe Bryant – G – Los Angeles Lakers
DNP (Kobe got what he deserved, a one-game suspension. I’m playing against him this week and he single-handedly destroyed me Tuesday night, so I thanked my lucky stars the league sat him for a game. Without Mamba, the Lakers were manhandled by Andrew Bogut and the Bucks. The Lakers play two more games this week, so get Kobe back in your lineup. He may be a punk, but he’s a damn good punk.)

PHOTO CREDIT: David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Technorati Tags: NBA, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Gerald Wallace, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver+Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, George Karl, Detroit Pistons, Emeka Okafor, Sean May, Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls, Andrew Bogut, Miwaukee Bucks

STUDS

Kobe Bryant – G – Los Angeles Lakers
40 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 threes, 3 blocks, 2 steals (Kobe’s turned into a real punk. First he tainted his legacy with his rape scandal. Then earlier this season he flagrantly fouls San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili by flailing his arms to draw a foul only to smack the Argentinean in the face. Fast forward to Tuesday night in Minnesota; Kobe pulls the same stunt against the Wolves’ Marko Jaric, intentionally swatting him in the grill after attempting to draw a foul. No word has been released on what’s going to happen to Kobe, but he received a one-game suspension earlier in the season for his dirty swat on Ginobili. Kobe was a stat machine last night, but it’s hard to root for a guy who plays as dirty as Mamba does.)

Ricky Davis – G/F – Minnesota Timberwolves
33 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 1 three (For the second game in a row, Davis has posted more than 30 points, while at the same time being an animal on the glass and a dime-dropping maniac. But if you look past the red tape you’ll see that both games went into double overtime, which allowed Ricky to fill the stat sheet beyond his normal capacities. Don’t get me wrong, Davis was an instrumental factor in the Wolves’ double OT win over the Lakers Tuesday night, in which he nearly posted a triple-double, but don’t expect lines like these every night.)

Stephon Marbury – G – New York Knicks
40 points, 8 threes, 3 assists, 1 rebound (Despite torching the Sonics for 40 points Tuesday night, the bigger story for Starbury was missing an important free throw that would have tied the game with only seconds remaining. It’s a tough break for the Knicks, but still a great night for Marbury owners. Marbury has been on a tear the past two weeks and has nailed 22 three-pointers in the past four games. The Starbury Express is clicking on all cylinders so enjoy the ride!)

Ray Allen – G/F – Seattle Supersonics
29 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 threes, 2 steals (It amazes me that Ray Ray is even playing basketball right now. Even more bizarre is how he’s been an absolute mad man the past two games after being listed as doubtful for the rest of the season. The bone spurs in his ankle were reportedly going to sideline him for the rest of the season, but instead he’s showing no sign of injury. Because Allen is just one game away from going down for good with a serious ankle injury, he makes a great sell-high candidate right now. It’s risky, for Allen could stay hot down the stretch, but he’s also got plenty of trade value that could help swing a deal before your league’s trade deadline.)

Vince Carter – G/F – New Jersey Nets
32 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal (A night after only scoring nine points, Vinsanity responded Tuesday night against the Mavs with 32. He was two assists shy of a double-double. The Vince Carter roller coaster ride continues.)

DUD

Ron Artest – F – Sacramento Kings
DNP (What is with this guy? If you took a chance on Artest in your fantasy draft this season, you were probably well aware that he came with baggage. But being investigated on possible cruelty to animals charges two weeks ago? Then domestic violence charges this week? Man, this guy needs help. For his actions he’s been excused by the Kings indefinitely and no word has been released on when he’ll return. Keep him benched for now, and take this incident as a warning not to draft him next season.)

PHOTO CREDIT: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Technorati Tags: NBA, Kobe Bryant, Ricky Davis, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Manu Ginobili, Marko Jaric, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Seattle Supersonics, New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs

STUDS

LeBron James – F – Cleveland Cavaliers
32 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 threes (King James has been blazing hot. Buffalo Wild Wings blazin’ sauce kinda hot. There’s not much else you can say, just look at the numbers. Mr. Microsoft has scored at least 29 points in nine straight games. He’s been an assist-o-matic with at least five in the past five games. He’s steadily crashing the boards and swatting balls. And even his free throw shooting has gotten better. Well, not a whole lot, but a little at least. The King’s No. 1 billing in fantasy leagues is finally paying off, so enjoy the ride if you own him.)

Gerald Wallace – G/F – Charlotte Bobcats
33 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal (The Bobcats got whooped again Monday night, this time by the Jazz. Michael Jordan must be cursing in his sleep by now with how terrible his young team has been performing. Yes, Okafor and Sean May are out nursing injuries, but losing by 25 points? The lone bright spot has been Gerald Wallace. Crash is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game. In February he was hitting 19.9 ppg and continues to be a stat whore, so look for more of the same.)

Mehmet Okur – F/C – Utah Jazz
32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 three (Memo’s had great back-to-back games, averaging 30 points in that span. He was also one board short of a double-double for the second straight game. The Jazz owned the Bobcats Monday night and Okur only played 31 minutes as a result. After a three-game slump, Okur has seemingly turned things around.)

Tracy McGrady – G/F – Houston Rockets
25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 threes (A couple things. First, TMac was horrendous from the floor Monday night, hitting just 10-of-32 shots. He was also only 3-of-10 from downtown and 2-of-5 on free throws. That’s not good if you’re in a league that counts shooting percentages. Second, Yao Ming was back Monday night. He was terribly out of shape and looked sluggish at times, but his return should help bolster McGrady. Once Yao’s back to full strength, McGrady won’t have to carry this Houston team alone, which will keep him from firing the rock up so many times per game. With Yao back at center, TMac’s shot selection should improve and his chances of getting injured should decrease as a result. Let’s hope so anyway.)

Jason Richardson – G/F – Golden State Warriors
29 points, 6 rebounds, 5 threes, 4 assists (JRich must be trying to make up for lost time. For two straight days he’s made the Studs list and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He buried 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and has been logging more minutes with each consecutive game. Richardson was having possibly the worst fantasy season of his six-year career, mostly due to being out with knee and hand injuries, but his late-season resurgence could pull him from the trash heap.)

DUD

Andrew Bogut – F/C – Milwaukee Bucks
0 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals (Talk about a lot of hot air. Bogut had three straight double-doubles going for him until Monday night’s downer. He took one shot on the night, missing it of course, and then managed to rack up four fouls and three turnovers. That’s a whole lot of nothing. He’ll be going up against the Lakers’ injury riddled big men, Andrew Bynum and Kwame Brown, on Wednesday, so pray he doesn’t turn in another goose egg.)

PHOTO CREDIT: David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Technorati Tags: LeBron James, Gerald Wallace, Mehmet Okur, Tracy McGrady, Jason Richardson, Andrew Bogut, Yao Ming, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Emeka Okafor, Michael Jordan, Sean May

STUDS

Michael Redd – G – Milwaukee Bucks
52 points, 8 threes, 3 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists (Talk about a shootout! Michael Redd and Ben Gordon went at it with their guns ’a blazing Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee. Redd was smokin’ through the first three quarters, canning 44 points; once he cooled off in the fourth, the Bucks lost an 18-point lead and lost the game in overtime. Redd didn’t do much besides score, but I’m sure owners aren’t complaining. His 52 points were five shy of tying the Bucks franchise record, which Redd set on November 10.)

Ben Gordon – G – Chicago Bulls
48 points, 6 threes, 5 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal (We knew Gordon was having a breakout year, but dang, this is too much! Like his boy Redd, Gordon went off Sunday scoring the most points he’s ever scored in an official game, at any level! He was making a run for Sixth Man of the Year, but he’s become a bonafide starter and most likely won’t be qualified for the honors. He’s averaging 21.6 points per game in ’06-07, compared with 16.9 in ’05-06.)

Kevin Garnett – F – Minnesota Timberwolves
33 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, 1 three (A game after posting only four rebounds and one assist, KG fired back with his third triple-double of the season. He even nailed a clutch three-pointer that sent the game into the first of two overtime periods. Despite The Big Ticket’s heroics, the TWolves fell to the once lowly Celtics and have now lost five of the last six games.)

Delonte West – G – Boston Celtics
31 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 threes (Even though he didn’t make a bucket in the first half of Sunday’s win over the Wolves, Delonte West posted a career-high in points. West was clutch in the fourth quarter and overtime, scoring all 31 of his points. The biggest factor was how money he was from the charity stripe, hitting 12-of-14. He also went 8-for-13 from the field and has been one of the main reasons the Celtics have won four straight.)

Jason Richardson – G/F – Golden State Warriors
28 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 threes, 3 blocks (JRich was two assists shy of a triple-double Sunday afternoon against the Wizards, and is clearly back to full form. He’s scored in double digits in six of the last seven games, and with Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson still out with injuries, look for Richardson to maintain the hot hand.)

DUD

Vince Carter – G/F – New Jersey Nets
9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 three (Upon first glance, Carter’s line doesn’t look terrible. Snagging six boards and dishing five dimes isn’t all that bad, but canning only 4-of-20 for nine points is absurd . . . in a terribly wrong way. Carter is as inconsistent as they come, making him a frustrating player to own. Let the roller coaster ride continue.)

PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Technorati Tags: Michael Redd, Ben Gordon, Kevin Garnett, Delonte West, Jason Richardson, Vince Carter, Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, New Jersey Nets

Richard Jefferson – F – New Jersey Nets
While No. 1 small forwards aren’t as difficult to come by as No. 1 centers, losing a stud like Richard Jefferson hurts regardless of the crop of SFs waiting on the wire. Out since January with an ankle injury, RJ is less than a week away from returning to the starting lineup. He might be available on some waiver wires, so it goes without saying that he should be picked up immediately. If he’s owned in your league, and you need a starting small forward, now’s the perfect time to target Jefferson because his value is at its lowest.

David Lee – F – New York Knicks
Lee’s been out six of the last seven games with a high ankle sprain but is expected to suit up Tuesday. He was reportedly able to dunk before Saturday’s win against the Atlanta Hawks, so target him now before he’s back to full strength. He’ll most likely go back to coming off the bench to relieve Jared Jeffries, but he should have excellent value with Jamal Crawford out for the year. And yes, before you say it, I agree with you; Isaiah Thomas is a complete fool for not inserting Lee into the starting lineup permanently.

Emeka Okafor – F/C – Charlotte Bobcats
Still out with a calf injury, Okafor makes this list for the second week in a row. It was originally thought that he could miss the rest of the season, but it was reported Sunday that the MRI was negative and his calf was just strained and slightly torn. Okafor is expected to miss the next three games for sure, so target him only if you’re prepared to wait a few games for his return.

Fire Sale:

Mike Bibby – PG – Sacramento Kings
Why would you want to move Bibby when he’s been red hot the past two weeks? For starters, the guy’s been so terribly inconsistent this season he’s bound to fall back to earth at any moment. It’s hard to say what you’d get for him at this point, but the fact that he’s scored more than 28 points in four of the last seven games makes him a great “fire sale” candidate.

Leandro Barbosa – G – Phoenix Suns
Barbosa is another guy you might question being on this list. But the Brazilian is a great sell-high candidate because his stats alone make him a great player to package for a fantasy stud. Barbosa has scored in double digits in 16 straight games and has 19 straight games with a three-pointer. He should be a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year honors, but if you can move him before your league’s trading deadline, you could land a bonafide starter with top-20 potential.

Ron Artest – F – Sacramento Kings
I haven’t written about Artest in this column yet this season, but he makes a great “Fire Sale” candidate week in, week out. He was having a great run at the end of February, but then he had two random DNPs that blindsided owners. The first DNP was for personal reasons, the second for a mystery knee issue that came out of nowhere. If you happened to draft Artest, you’re well aware by now that the talented forward comes with strings attached. But because he’s got great name recognition and has been playing so well lately, there’s bound to be a few owners in your league interested in his services.

Mike Miller – G/F – Memphis Grizzlies
Like Barbosa, Miller is another guy with great trade value. He’s been pretty consistent all season and he should be in starting lineups. But if you’re already stacked with three-point shooters, moving Miller for a top-15 big man makes sense.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images