Daily Notes for Saturday: Rockets ready for board meeting
| Time | Visitors | Opp. PPG | Opp. FGP | RPG Diff. | Home | Opp. PPG | Opp. FGP | RPG Diff. | |||
| 7:00 p.m. |  | Orlando Magic | 99.9 | .449 | +1.0 | @ |  | Atlanta Hawks | 99.1 | .458 | +1.1 |
| 7:00 p.m. |  | New Jersey Nets | 99.8 | .453 | +0.8 | @ |  | Philadelphia 76ers | 95.8 | .458 | +3.3 |
| 7:00 p.m. |  | Miami Heat | 101.3 | .472 | -4.3 | @ |  | Charlotte Bobcats | 100.9 | .468 | -2.9 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Boston Celtics | 90.0 | .417 | +2.1 | @ |  | New Orleans Hornets | 94.8 | .454 | +1.8 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | New York Knicks | 102.0 | .471 | -0.4 | @ |  | Minnesota Timberwolves | 101.1 | .466 | 0.0 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Sacramento Kings | 104.1 | .464 | -1.3 | @ |  | Memphis Grizzlies | 105.8 | .480 | -2.9 |
| 8:30 p.m. |  | Indiana Pacers | 105.6 | .455 | -2.0 | @ |  | Chicago Bulls | 99.3 | .449 | +1.0 |
| 8:30 p.m. |  | Cleveland Cavaliers | 97.4 | .456 | +3.5 | @ |  | Milwaukee Bucks | 102.8 | .477 | +0.4 |
| 9:00 p.m. |  | Seattle Supersonics | 106.3 | .458 | +0.4 | @ |  | Utah Jazz | 100.2 | .460 | +2.1 |
| 10:00 p.m. |  | Houston Rockets | 91.7 | .429 | +4.1 | @ |  | Phoenix Suns | 105.0 | .455 | -3.5 |
| 10:30 p.m. |  | Portland Trail Blazers | 96.6 | .448 | -1.9 | @ |  | Los Angeles Clippers | 100.5 | .466 | -3.6 |
All times are ET.
Key: Opp. PPG = Points per game allowed to opponents. Opp. FGP = Field goal percentage allowed to opponents. RPG Diff. = The difference between team's rebounds per game and its opponents' rebounds per game.
Out:
Mickael Gelabale, SF, Sonics (knee)
Udonis Haslem, PF, Heat (ankle)
Yao Ming, C, Rockets (foot)
Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C, Pacers (knee)
Sebastian Telfair, PG, Wolves (ankle)
Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Heat (knee)
Day-to-day
Marcus Banks, PG, Heat (hamstring)
Raja Bell, SG, Suns (ankle)
Danny Granger, SF, Pacers (wrist)
Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, Bulls (ankle)
Chris Kaman, C, Clippers (back)
Brevin Knight, PG, Clippers (leg)
Nenad Krstic, C, Nets (respiratory infection)
Shawn Marion, SF, Heat (back)
Beno Udrih, PG, Kings (back)
Jason Williams, PG, Heat (thumb)
The Rockets have a ridiculous rebounding discrepancy with the Suns, so look for Luis Scola, Dikembe Mutombo, Chuck Hayes, Shane Battier and anybody with a pulse on the Rockets to have an above-average rebounding night. ... The Kings-Grizzlies matchup should prove to be a high-scoring affair, so make sure to get all your marginal players from both teams in your starting lineups. Likewise, the Celtics and Hornets will be locked in a defensive showdown, so bench your players from those teams who aren't automatic starts. ... Newly signed Smush Parker provided eight assists in 29 minutes Wednesday night and will have value because of the Clippers' unimpressive backcourt. If Brevin Knight sits again, look for Parker to contribute 3s, steals and assists. ... Hakim Warrick has been relegated to the bench but is still getting big minutes and will continue contributing. He had 11 rebounds, one steal and three blocks Wednesday night in 31 minutes as the Grizzlies' sixth man. As long as he continues playing a significant role, Warrick will provide efficient totals in points, rebounds, plus a handful of steals and blocks. ... Marquis Daniels is playing a serious role off the bench and he has scored in double digits in three of his past four contests. He's averaging 1.3 steals since the All-Star break, and because steals are one of the hardest categories to address, Daniels is an option if you're seriously digging for that category.
Anthony Johnson had a big game (13 points and 13 assists) Tuesday with Beno Udrih sidelined. If Udrih continues to miss time, Johnson is an ideal fill-in who had success with the Hawks earlier this season. Johnson is an excellent short-term option, even if Udrih does return. ... Rodney Carney has scored in double digits in three of his past four contests, and he is proving valuable down the stretch for the Sixers. He only really gives you scoring and 3s, which is much more than earlier this season when he was considered a major disappointment. ... The Heat are running on fumes, and so battered by injuries that Bobby Jones is shouldering a heavy load right now. He played 35 minutes off the bench Wednesday with eight rebounds, and Jones is a good enough defender to keep getting floor time. If Jason Williams, Marcus Banks and Shawn Marion all miss, look for him to be relied upon again. Chris Quinn is in the same boat. If Williams and Banks are out, look for Quinn to play nearly every minute at point guard. ... Jared Dudley's minutes have been cut considerably, and even though he's an impressive player who has defied expectations this season, he won't contribute to your fantasy team if he plays of single-digit minutes. ... Bostjan Nachbar is still getting about 25 minutes off the bench, and he can nail 3s. If you need help from downtown, Nachbar is a cheap option. ... Jeff Green is taking more shots in March than any other month, including from behind the arc. He's only a deep-league option, but if you need a little bit of everything, that's just what Green will provide, which will make him a fantasy darling for years down the line. ... Paul Millsap hasn't had a big game in weeks. He isn't playing a huge role for the Jazz right now, it's safe to cut him for someone who plays more minutes. ... With Sebastian Telfair out with a bum ankle, Kirk Snyder has started at shooting guard for the Wolves. He has two double-digit scoring games in his past four, although the team chiefly relies upon Rashad McCants for scoring off the bench, so Snyder's value is very limited.
Josh Whitling is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com
