Commentary

Daily Notes for Friday: Just get healthy guys in

Updated: January 2, 2009, 12:00 AM ET

By Neil Tardy | Special to ESPN.com

Matchups for Friday, Jan. 2

Time	Visitors		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.		Home		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.
7 p.m.		Houston Rockets	93.9	.443	+1.8	@		Toronto Raptors	100.5	.458	-4.4
7 p.m.		Miami Heat	95.9	.440	-2.0	@		Orlando Magic	93.6	.425	-1.5
7:30 p.m.		Washington Wizards	101.3	.474	-2.2	@		Boston Celtics	90.8	.419	+5.5
7:30 p.m.		Indiana Pacers	104.6	.456	+1.0	@		New York Knicks	107.9	.484	-4.7
7:30 p.m.		Atlanta Hawks	94.8	.443	+0.5	@		New Jersey Nets	102.3	.465	+0.1
7:30 p.m.		Chicago Bulls	102.9	.456	-1.6	@		Cleveland Cavaliers	89.6	.423	+4.3
8 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs	93.8	.455	-0.4	@		Memphis Grizzlies	100.2	.475	-2.3
8 p.m.		Golden State Warriors	111.2	.472	-5.4	@		Minnesota Timberwolves	102.8	.473	-0.3
8 p.m.		Sacramento Kings	105.3	.475	-3.2	@		Detroit Pistons	94.1	.447	-1.5
8 p.m.		Denver Nuggets	99.5	.436	-0.5	@		Oklahoma City Thunder	102.2	.475	-0.4
8:30 p.m.		Charlotte Bobcats	93.5	.447	-0.7	@		Milwaukee Bucks	96.6	.447	+3.3
8:30 p.m.		Philadelphia 76ers	96.2	.453	+2.9	@		Dallas Mavericks	97.0	.437	+2.7
9 p.m.		Los Angeles Clippers	99.9	.447	-3.0	@		Phoenix Suns	102.0	.452	+1.0
10 p.m.		New Orleans Hornets	91.4	.450	+0.8	@		Portland Trail Blazers	95.0	.460	+4.9
10:30 p.m.		Utah Jazz	97.3	.449	+1.6	@		Los Angeles Lakers	97.6	.440	+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.

Injury report

Out
Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards (knee)
Shane Battier, SF, Rockets (foot)
Carlos Boozer, PF, Jazz (knee)
Elton Brand, PF, 76ers (shoulder)
Eddy Curry, C, Knicks (knee)
Ricky Davis, SG/SF, Clippers (knee)
Luol Deng, SF, Bulls (ankle)
Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF, Pacers (knee)
Monta Ellis, PG/SG, Warriors (ankle)
Jordan Farmar, PG, Lakers (knee)
Richard Hamilton, SG, Pistons (groin)
Kirk Hinrich, PG/SG, Bulls (thumb)
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Grizzlies (knuckle)
Paul Millsap, PF, Jazz (knee)
Mickael Pietrus, SG/SF, Magic (wrist)
Zach Randolph, PF/C, Clippers (knee)
Jerry Stackhouse, SG/SF, Mavericks (foot)
Wally Szczerbiak, SG/SF, Cavaliers (knee)

Day-to-day
Caron Butler, SF, Wizards (ankle)
Nick Collison, PF/C, Thunder (thumb)
Drew Gooden, PF/C, Bulls (ankle)
Spencer Hawes, PF/C, Kings (abdomen)
Antonio McDyess, PF, Pistons (ribs)
Tracy McGrady, SG/SF, Rockets (knee)
Mike Miller, SG/SF, Timberwolves (ankle)
Steve Nash, PG, Suns (back)
Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C, Raptors (knee)
Brandon Roy, SG, Trail Blazers (hamstring)
Joe Smith, PF, Thunder (thigh)
Rasheed Wallace, PF/C, Pistons (foot)

Start 'em, sit 'em

It's rare when the NBA has all 30 of its teams playing on the same night. What the full slate of 15 games does is save owners in daily lineup leagues some aggravation. For instance, why fret over Drew Gooden, who's supposed to return either Friday or Saturday, when you likely have another good, and healthier, option? The same goes for Tracy McGrady, who for the foreseeable future will rest one night in back-to-back situations (the Rockets visit Atlanta on Saturday). And, sadly, this also applies to one of my fantasy faves, Brandon Roy, who told The Oregonian that, although his injured hamstring is improving, he'll probably sit out again Friday. … One player who looks like a go is Steve Nash. He told The Arizona Republic that he expects to play Friday. … With the New Year's holiday, there frankly weren't a lot of updates Thursday, so keep checking for late word. In general, though, this is a good night to play it safe with your lineup.

Waiver-wire pickups

With all of your healthy front-line players available, there isn't a great need to dig for sleepers, but keep Russell Westbrook in mind. One of the most-added players in ESPN.com leagues this week, Westbrook goes against the Nuggets, and Denver opponents get the 10th-most steals, 11th-most assists and fifth-most 3-pointers. The rookie is making strides in his shooting (46.2 percent in December), and he has four 3s in his past two games. … The Raptors are third-worst in rebound differential, so 26-percent-owned Luis Scola is a good bet for double-digit boards in Toronto. … And with Roy likely sidelined, 17-percent-owned Steve Blake should be in line for another productive night against a Hornets team that yields nearly seven 3s per game.

Neil Tardy is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.