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January 4, 2008, 11:54 AM

Daily Notes for Saturday: Joe Smith on the rise

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By Josh Whitling
Special to ESPN.com
Archive

Time	Visitors		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.		Home		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.
7:00 p.m.		New Jersey Nets	97.3	.447	+2.1	@		Atlanta Hawks	95.1	.452	+0.2
7:30 p.m.		Boston Celtics	87.0	.414	+3.8	@		Detroit Pistons	89.4	.433	+1.2
8:30 p.m.		Sacramento Kings	101.0	.461	-2.7	@		Chicago Bulls	96.8	.447	+1.0
8:30 p.m.		New York Knicks	102.2	.482	+1.1	@		Houston Rockets	94.1	.437	+2.7
9:00 p.m.		New Orleans Hornets	92.5	.445	+0.7	@		Phoenix Suns	103.7	.454	-5.7
10:00 p.m.		Utah Jazz	100.7	.463	+2.4	@		Portland Trail Blazers	95.5	.445	-2.5

Out
Ron Artest, SF, Kings (knee)
Mike Bibby, PG, Kings (thumb)
Melvin Ely, C, Hornets (eye)
Kevin Martin, SG, Kings (groin)
Tracy McGrady, SG/SF, Rockets (knee)

Day-to-day
Luol Deng, SF, Bulls (Achilles)
Andre Kirilenko, SF/PF, Jazz (biceps)
Salim Stoudamire, SG, Hawks (ankle)
Bonzi Wells, SG, Rockets (shoulder)
Antoine Wright, SG/SF, Nets (ankle)

The Celtics-Pistons game will be a defensive showdown, and I wouldn't recommend starting any of either team's fringe players. … Beno Udrih's value won't disappear when Mike Bibby returns, as Reggie Theus has hinted at playing them both in the backcourt and shifting Kevin Martin to small forward upon Bibby's return. Even if Udrih becomes the sixth man, Theus clearly likes him and he'll have value all year. By the way, Francisco Garcia is an obvious start while Ron Artest is out. … Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Miles and Kyle Korver are now sharing the shooting guard duties for the Jazz, which is ironic since they've lacked at that position for several years and it was a question mark entering the season. Now they don't have enough minutes to go around, although Brewer should get the bulk of the minutes and Korver will have value as a 3-point specialist. Brewer is the only safe start against the streaking Blazers. I'd overlook Miles, and it seems clear that Ronnie Price is completely out of the picture and the little value he was attempting to establish has vanished. … Travis Outlaw had his best game in weeks Thursday night, with 21 points, five rebounds and one 3. Even though the game went to double-overtime, most of his points were scored in regulation, and since he can be a threat in 3s, steals and blocks, he's a worthy start even if he isn't starting.

Anthony Johnson's value has fallen since both Acie Law and Tyronn Lue returned. He went from getting as many minutes as his body could handle to fighting for them; if you're in a shallower league drop him for someone with higher upside, since either player will likely ride your bench. I wouldn't start him tonight and eventually Law will inherit the starting role. … Bobby Jackson was the only guard that came off the bench Wednesday night and with Byron Scott's recently-shortened rotation, you could see a spike in his value. As long as he gets more than 20 minutes per game, he'll provide a 3 and a steal and is an ideal play tonight against the Suns, who allow tons of points and shot attempts. Both Rasual Butler and Jannero Pargo were benched for the entire game Wednesday and are currently worthless. … Joe Smith went crazy for 31 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks Thursday night, shooting 65 percent from the field and 90 percent from the stripe. I just added him and you should too. He definitely seems to be in new coach Jim Boylan's good graces. … Bonzi Wells had 29 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block Wednesday night. Tracy McGrady is out for at least seven to 10 more days and during that span, Wells should produce, as he has in recent games. Even though his shoulder is sore, expect him to play. … James Jones is averaging 2.2 3s over his past six games and has scored in double digits in five of them. He also made a key late-game block Thursday night and is becoming a key player for the recently-sensational Blazers.

Josh Whitling is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com