April 1, 2008, 1:33 PM

Daily Notes for Wednesday: J-Rich, Fisher will get open looks

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Landman By Seth Landman
Special to ESPN.com
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Matchups for Wednesday, April 2

Time Visitors Opp. PPG Opp. FGP RPG Diff. Home Opp. PPG Opp. FGP RPG Diff.
7 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks 102.7 .475 +.8
@
Washington Wizards 99.1 .460 -.3
7 p.m. Cleveland Cavaliers 97.1 .456 +3.9
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Charlotte Bobcats 100.6 .466 -3.1
7 p.m. Toronto Raptors 97.2 .458 -1.4
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Atlanta Hawks 99.2 .459 +1.0
7 p.m. Indiana Pacers 105.8 .458 -1.7
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Boston Celtics 90.2 .419 +1.9
7:30 p.m. New Orleans Hornets 95.6 .460 +1.0
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Miami Heat 100.5 .468 -5.1
8 p.m. New York Knicks 102.5 .473 -.5
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Memphis Grizzlies 106.3 .479 -2.6
9 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves 101.2 .467 -.4
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Utah Jazz 100.2 .462 +2.8
9:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors 108.1 .464 -4.1
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Dallas Mavericks 95.7 .442 +2.8
10 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers 100.5 .467 -3.5
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Seattle SuperSonics 106.4 .461 +.5
10:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers 96.3 .449 -1.0
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Los Angeles Lakers 101.9 .445 +1.0

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.

Injury Report:

Out
Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers (groin)
Chris Wilcox, PF, SuperSonics (finger)

Day-to-day
Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks (nose)
Elton Brand, PF, Clippers (Achilles)
Ronnie Brewer, SG, Jazz (groin)
Daequan Cook, PG, Heat (concussion)
Antonio Daniels, PG, Wizards (wrist)
Pau Gasol, PF/C, Lakers (ankle)
Daniel Gibson, PG, Cavaliers (ankle)
Andrei Kirilenko, SF/PF, Jazz (calf)
Shawn Marion, SF/PF, Heat (back)
Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C, Pacers (knee)
Mehmet Okur, C, Jazz (flu)
Mickael Pietrus, SG/SF, Warriors (groin)
Zach Randolph, PF, Knicks (flu)
Jerry Stackhouse, SG/SF, Mavericks (groin)
Tim Thomas, SF/PF, Clippers (Achilles)
Ben Wallace, C, Cavaliers (back)
Gerald Wallace, SG/SF, Bobcats (head)

Start 'em, sit 'em

Jason Richardson has been the most consistent performer for the Bobcats all season, but he has been particularly great against the Cavaliers, averaging 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 3s, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks in three games against them. With Gerald Wallace's status uncertain heading into Wednesday's matchup, it's even more important than usual that you fit Richardson into your lineup. … Marvin Williams has been playing some inspired ball of late for the Hawks. He's had consecutive double-doubles for the first time all season, including a 27-point, 11-rebound, two-block showing against the Knicks. Look for Williams to post another double-double Wednesday, because the Raptors are not a great rebounding team, and Williams is averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds against them in two games this season. … There shouldn't be a whole lot of resistance when the Knicks and Grizzlies, two of the league's worst defensive teams, match up on Wednesday. David Lee is definitely worth starting, because he should be able to rack up plenty of rebounds against the Grizzlies' weak front line. With Zach Randolph listed as questionable because of the flu, I'd expect Lee to play plenty of minutes and have a productive double-double to show for it. … Missing Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, the Jazz had no answers for anyone on the Timberwolves on Sunday, allowing one of the worst teams in the league to shoot 53.2 percent from the floor. Chances are those guys will play on Wednesday, so I'd expect this game to go a little differently. As a result, you might want to think about sitting Al Jefferson if you don't need his rebounding on Wednesday. He's shooting only 38 percent from the field against the Jazz this season, and his 18.3 points per game against them was boosted by his 22 points against them Sunday with Kirilenko and Okur out of the lineup. Chances are Jefferson will be productive but inefficient, and if you are vulnerable in field-goal percentage, consider sitting him just this once.

Waiver-wire pickups

Derek Fisher
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty ImagesThis is the time of year the Lakers need Derek Fisher the most.
At this point of the season, it seems important to point out that the Bucks are the worst defensive team in the league, according to John Hollinger's efficiency ratings. Not the Knicks, not the Grizzlies, not the SuperSonics … the Bucks. So if you are looking to pick up someone off the waiver wire to give you a late boost, it's not a bad idea to check out the Bucks' upcoming opponent. In this case, with Antonio Daniels still listed as questionable because of a wrist injury, you should look into picking up the Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. Stevenson has looked good lately, averaging 15.6 points and more than four 3-pointers over his past five contests. The Bucks, not surprisingly, allow teams to shoot 38 percent from behind the arc for the season. Even if Daniels is able to play, take a look at Stevenson if you need 3s. … The Lakers' Derek Fisher has seen his minutes increase a bit of late as the Lakers move toward the playoffs. Averaging 27.6 minutes for the season, he's up to 31.8 minutes over his past five games. He's not going to give you much, but he'll score in double figures, knock down a few 3s and rack up a few assists while rarely turning over the ball. His numbers against Portland this season look bad, but he's a good pickup this time, because Portland does not have the same perimeter defense with Brandon Roy out of the lineup. The Blazers will have to slack off Fisher to double Kobe Bryant, so Fisher should get plenty of open looks, and even when he's covered, he'll be covered by the defensive matador known as Steve Blake. … With Mickael Pietrus still battling a wrist injury, it has become clear that coach Don Nelson is going to rely on Kelenna Azubuike to fill Pietrus' role on defense. Azubuike played more than 44 minutes against the Mavericks on Sunday and had 15 points, seven rebounds and two 3-pointers in the Warriors' huge win. One would think Azubuike would once again play a key role in the rematch Wednesday.

Seth Landman is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com