Daily Notes for Wednesday: Rich get richer
| Time | Visitors | Opp. PPG | Opp. FGP | RPG Diff. | Home | Opp. PPG | Opp. FGP | RPG Diff. | |||
| 7:00 p.m. |  | Washington Wizards | 97.8 | .431 | +2.3 | @ |  | Charlotte Bobcats | 93.7 | .445 | +3.1 |
| 7:30 p.m. |  | Golden State Warriors | 114.3 | .488 | -6.3 | @ |  | Boston Celtics | 89.4 | .409 | +5.8 |
| 7:30 p.m. |  | Atlanta Hawks | 101.8 | .471 | +1.0 | @ |  | Miami Heat | 90.8 | .440 | -4.3 |
| 7:30 p.m. |  | Dallas Mavericks | 95.8 | .443 | +.9 | @ |  | Houston Rockets | 93.5 | .455 | +2.3 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | New York Knicks | 104.1 | .468 | +2.0 | @ |  | Detroit Pistons | 95.6 | .434 | +.9 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Los Angeles Lakers | 97.7 | .422 | +5.6 | @ |  | Milwaukee Bucks | 96.6 | .453 | +2.6 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Toronto Raptors | 95.4 | .451 | -2.7 | @ |  | Memphis Grizzlies | 108.8 | .483 | -2.3 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Indiana Pacers | 103.0 | .433 | -.5 | @ |  | New Orleans Hornets | 90.8 | .442 | -.1 |
| 8:00 p.m. |  | Cleveland Cavaliers | 102.7 | .456 | +4.9 | @ |  | Minnesota Timberwolves | 102.8 | .477 | +2.5 |
| 8:30 p.m. |  | Orlando Magic | 95.0 | .428 | -1.2 | @ |  | San Antonio Spurs | 89.9 | .450 | +.1 |
| 9:00 p.m. |  | Sacramento Kings | 104.5 | .473 | -6.7 | @ |  | Phoenix Suns | 100.4 | .447 | -6.2 |
| 10:00 p.m. |  | New Jersey Nets | 94.5 | .431 | +.8 | @ |  | Portland Trail Blazers | 98.5 | .451 | -4.0 |
| 10:30 p.m. |  | Denver Nuggets | 99.9 | .436 | -.2 | @ |  | Los Angeles Clippers | 99.6 | .440 | -2.1 |
All times are expressed in Eastern time.
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:
Darrell Armstrong, PG, Nets (thigh)
Matt Barnes, SF, Warriors (personal)
Eddie Jones, SG, Mavericks (ankle)
James Jones, SF, Trail Blazers (knee)
Corey Maggette, SG/SF, Clippers (hamstring)
Rasho Nesterovic, C, Raptors (ankle)
Day-to-day
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF/C, Kings (personal)
Gilbert Arenas, PG, Wizards (knee)
Raja Bell, SG, Suns (ankle)
Kwame Brown, PF/C, Lakers (ankle/knee)
Vince Carter, SG/SF, Nets (ankle)
Tyson Chandler, C, Hornets (knee)
Mike Conley, PG, Grizzlies (shoulder)
Travis Diener, PG, Pacers (knee)
Pat Garrity, PF, Magic (ankle)
Acie Law IV, PG, Hawks (ankle)
Kenyon Martin, PF, Nuggets (back)
Antonio McDyess, PF, Pistons (shoulder)
Tracy McGrady, SG/SF, Rockets (elbow)
Josh McRoberts, C, Trail Blazers (ankle)
Darko Milicic, PF/C, Grizzlies (thumb)
Cuttino Mobley, SG, Clippers (groin)
Smush Parker, PG, Heat (ankle)
Chris Paul, PG, Hornets (knee)
Theo Ratliff, C, Timberwolves (knee)
Quinton Ross, SG/SF, Clippers (knee)
Sebastian Telfair, PG, Timberwolves (personal)
Kenny Thomas, PF, Kings (shin)
Al Thornton, SF, Clippers (ankle)
Ronny Turiaf, PF, Lakers (ankle)
Lorenzen Wright, C, Hawks (foot)
Washington forces teams to shoot mostly jump shots, which is why the Wizards are holding teams to 43 percent shooting from the floor. However, their defense traditionally has looked much worse than it has thus far this season, and I don't expect that to continue. I'd be starting my shooters against Washington, and that means Charlotte's Jason Richardson and Raymond Felton need to be in your lineup. … Celtics versus Warriors is a matchup of the best (C's) and the second-worst (Warriors) rebounding teams in the league so far. Boston also has been playing phenomenal perimeter defense. Add it all up, and Al Harrington should be on your bench for this game. … I'd also be sitting Miami's Ricky Davis against the Hawks, as Josh Smith and Joe Johnson both have the size and quickness to hamper Ricky's shot and cut off his driving lanes. … The Rockets and the Mavericks make it tough on opposing offenses, but Devin Harris could have a nice game against Houston. The Rockets don't force teams into jump shots, and Harris has the speed to get by Mike James and Rafer Alston. Harris' effectiveness will depend on how well Yao Ming defends the rim. … You've never needed to start someone the way you need to start Rasheed Wallace for the Pistons against the Knicks. I have no idea how they plan to defend him, as Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and David Lee are all terrible options. They might try to throw Renaldo Balkman on him, but I think Rasheed will be able to shoot right over the top. … I'm excited to see how Andrew Bogut and Andrew Bynum match up in the Bucks' game against the Lakers; if Bogut is active, though, Bynum could end up in foul trouble. He might be worth sitting for this one. … Opponents are shooting 39 percent from long range against the Pacers, which means you need to have the Hornets' Peja Stojakovic in your lineup. … I'd start Daniel Gibson for the Cavs against Minnesota; the more minutes the Wolves give to Sebastian Telfair, the worse their defense is going to look against any opposing point guard. … I'd be sitting everyone save Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu for Orlando against the Spurs. Someone else will have to get some points, but I really have no idea who it'll be against the best defense in the league. … I actually think Sacramento could match up well with Phoenix if the Kings went small and let Ron Artest guard Shawn Marion at power forward. Regardless, Beno Udrih could be a nice play against Phoenix, as Sacramento will want to make Steve Nash play defense and Beno has been playing a ton of minutes lately anyway. … I was glad to see everyone joined up with the Sean Williams Block Party over the past week; I'm looking forward to a long, happy season watching Sean block three or so shots per game. He might have a rough night for the Nets against the Blazers, though. Portland shoots jump shots almost exclusively, which could restrict a lot of Williams' value. … The Clippers have been crushed by injuries, and it seems as though all their scorers are hurt against Denver, a team you sort of need to outscore. That means you absolutely need to start Sam Cassell, who will be a willing shooter against the Nuggets' defensively challenged backcourt.
Given some more playing time, Andray Blatche could begin to be a key member of Washington's big man rotation. In his past five games, he's averaging 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds to go along with 2.4 blocks and 1 steal. He's doing all that in only 22 minutes per game. If his minutes start to creep up to the 30s, he could be a key fantasy player in blocks and steals. … As I wrote above, you'll want to start your shooters against the Wizards, so picking up Charlotte's Matt Carroll for some 3's should be a pretty solid move. … Luis Scola has looked great for the Rockets the past few games while Tracy McGrady has been out, but T-Mac is coming back soon, it appears. That will mean fewer minutes for Scola and Bonzi Wells. I'd still pick up Scola, as he has some pretty nice potential, but I'd temper my excitement until we see what his production looks like with a healthy T-Mac in the lineup. … With Antonio McDyess still a bit beat-up, Jason Maxiell is starting for Detroit and continues to be a good play if you're in need of some blocks. He has a lot of long-term potential, as well. … You'll want to start your Raptors against the porous Grizzlies defense, but you'll also want to start Memphis' backup point guard Kyle Lowry. He's getting most of the minutes there already, and he's the only Memphis guard quick enough to try to stay with T.J. Ford. … If Chris Paul misses any more time (he missed Monday night's game), you should pick up Jannero Pargo for the Hornets. He started Monday night, and he has the shot to really light up Indiana with the 3-ball. … If ever there was a time to pick someone up against the Spurs, it would be Orlando's Keith Bogans on Wednesday. He's shooting six 3's per game, and hitting them at a 36 percent clip. Someone you know needs 3's, so Bogans is worth owning, people.
Seth Landman is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com
