Eastern Conference Breakdown

November 25, 2008 12:50pm CST

Atlanta Hawks
Josh Smith will likely miss another four or five games and it will be Maurice Evans who continues to benefit. He has averaged 29 minutes over his last five games and is hitting over 50 percent of his shots, including 9-of-18 from three-point range. He followed up a double-double on Friday with a 21-point, four-trey performance against Cleveland...Through 12 games, Al Horford is blocking twice as many shots per game as he did a season ago. He is currently tied for 14th in the league after blocking fewer than one shot per game as a rookie.

Boston Celtics
Several opposing teams have expressed resentment to the league office regarding Kevin Garnett's recent behavior on the court. He has been physical after the whistle and blatantly taunting players. His fantasy owners wish they had such an outlet to express their frustration with the forward. Since returning from a one-game suspension (for shoving Andrew Bogut's face) he has managed just 14 rebounds in three games...Rajon Rondo is getting more aggressive on offense and it's paying off. After averaging just 5.8 shots through his first 11 games, he has taken 11.5 in his last four. His scoring average was 7.1 ppg before averaging 15.3 in this recent spurt.

Charlotte Bobcats
Frustrated with, well, everything, coach Larry Brown recently inserted two rookies into his starting lineup. The first move - starting D.J. Augustin at the point and moving Raymond Felton to shooting guard - has paid off. Augustin has averaged 21.0 points, 6.3 assists and hit 10 treys in his last four games. However, this backcourt configuration does not figure to last long, as Jason Richardson should only miss another week. Rookie big man Alexis Ajinca's turn as a starter has not worked out as well. The Frenchman has totaled just 36 minutes in his three starts. Look for the Bobcats to shop some of their backcourt and wing players for some interior help.

Chicago Bulls
Chaos continues to reign in Chicago. A game after not playing in Golden State, Joakim Noah started against Denver. Tyrus Thomas' minutes have continued to fluctuate. He has played six or fewer minutes twice in the last five games and he's shooting an absurd 31 percent from the field this season. Larry Hughes has been the most vocal about the undefined roles. "I don't want to play like this," he said. "I'm not comfortable with 15-20 minutes." He saw 71 minutes in the next two games and averaged 19.5 points. Then he hit a last second game-winner over Utah. However, Luol Deng has missed some time with a groin injury and should return to the starting lineup soon. Once he does, it's uncertain if Hughes or Ben Gordon will be moved to the bench.

Cleveland Cavaliers
It wouldn't seem like there were many stats to go around on the Cavs' roster due to LeBron James' dominance, but a few players have been solid contributors. Mo Williams and Zydrunas Ilgauskus are the obvious ones, but Delonte West is also a very steady bench player in fantasy. He is playing over 34 minutes and scoring 11.4 points per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 49 percent from deep. The 2.6 assists per game is his lowest mark since his rookie season, but that number figures to go up. He's not an impact player, but his shooting accuracy and three-point rate should keep him on rosters this season.

Detroit Pistons
Allen Iverson's arrival in Detroit figured to negatively affect a few Pistons' fantasy numbers and that has certainly been the case. Shooting guard Richard Hamilton's numbers have dipped. He is taking far fewer shots, shooting under 40 percent, and has not scored 20 points yet while playing alongside Iverson. Sixth-man Rodney Stuckey's production has dropped off even more. Since the trade, he has averaged 6.5 points to go with 16 turnovers and 13 assists in five games. As the backup to Chauncey Billups, Stuckey averaged 10.5 points with 14 assists and just six turnovers this season.

Indiana Pacers

It looks like Rasho Nesterovic may finally become a fantasy factor at the ripe age of 32. He has started every game he has appeared in and in his last five has averaged 12.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 blocks. Because he has a secure starting job, he makes for a low-risk/good-reward option on the waiver wire...It does not seem like Mike Dunleavy (knee) will return anytime soon and it would not surprise me to see him miss all of December. Marquis Daniels continues to play well enough in his place that the Pacers may look to move somebody once they get back Dunleavy. They currently reside in last place of their division.

Miami Heat
Michael Beasley's minutes have been limited in some games due to his ineffectiveness on the defensive end...The Heat finally have some help coming at the center position, but it remains to be seen how much. Jamaal Magloire (broken finger) could be activated this week and may see minutes by default. Miami currently starts 6-foot-8 Udonis Haslem at center and backs him up with 6-foot-9 Joel Anthony. Magloire is on his sixth team in five years and has been mostly ineffective since 2005-06 when he averaged 9.2 points and 9.5 rebounds with the Bucks...Dwyane Wade ranks fifth in the league with 2.0 blocks per game.

Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are playing .500 ball since Michael Redd left their fourth game of the season with a sprained ankle. The collection of new faces has gelled well under coach Scott Skiles, and the team has had five different leading scorers in its past five games. One reason is point guard Ramon Sessions, who continues to come off the bench despite having superior numbers compared to starter Luke Ridnour. Sessions is averaging 14.9 points and 5.6 assists and appears to be ready to take over the starting job. Another reason is the exceptional board work of Andrew Bogut, who had 54 rebounds in a three-game stretch last week.

New Jersey Nets
Overshadowed by Vince Carter's dominating performances of late, Brook Lopez has played well enough that he should remain the starting center for the Nets once Josh Boone returns from a sprained ankle. He has averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots as a starter while shooting 59 percent from the field. He brings a much needed low-post option to coach Lawrence Frank's lineup. However, Frank is a traditionalist and one would have to guess that Boone continues to start. Should Lopez win the job, he is an excellent pickup.

New York Knicks
A concern over Cuttino Mobley's heart was raised when the Knicks were conducting physicals on their newly acquired players. He will see a heart specialist and a negative diagnosis could negate the Mobley-Tim Thomas for Zach Randolph-Mardy Collins trade. The good news in all of this is that the Knicks are finally checking players' hearts after years of acquiring players with seemingly little desire to win...Al Harrington, acquired from Golden State for Jamal Crawford, figures to thrive in Mike D'Antoni's system. He is an excellent athlete who has three-point range. David Lee also slides into the starting lineup and should average a double-double the rest of the season...Stephon Marbury was asked to suit up last week shortly after the trades went down so that the Knicks could meet the league minimum of eight active players in their next game. He refused to do so. Uh, Stephon, they're paying you $20 million this season. I'm pretty sure it's a contract violation when a healthy player refuses to play.

Orlando Magic
Keith Bogans (thumb) could miss up to six weeks and that means J.J. Redick could be looking at a consistent 25 minutes per game as he backs up Mickael Pietrus. In the Magic's first game without Bogans, Redick hit three treys. His fantasy value remains limited, but he figures to be an excellent source of three-pointers as the team's new sixth-man...Dwight Howard is averaging 4.4 fouls per game in his last five and that has limited him to just over 30 minutes of run for those games. Still, he is averaging 4.1 blocks per game, two more than his previous best for a season. On the downside, he is shooting a career-worst 54 percent from the free throw line.

Philadelphia 76ers
Andre Iguodala got off to a slow start this season but he has been a huge fantasy factor recently. In his previous five games he is averaging 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.2 steals. He is still struggling with his shot, but he is once again showing the ability to produce the types of stat lines that we had grown used to over the last three seasons...Willie Green and Lou Williams continue to alternate as the sixth-man. It's impossible to guess which one will get 25 minutes in a game and who sees just 15 minutes. The inconsistency negates both of the players' fantasy values.

Toronto Raptors
Andrea Bargnani has taken over the starting small forward spot from the struggling Jamario Moon and Joey Graham. In four starts, the seven-footer is averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 block, and 2.3 three-pointers...Jermaine O'Neal gave his owners a good scare when he twisted his knee in an ugly fall on Friday against the Nets, but he was back in action on Sunday against the Celtics. He only played 14 minutes, but it's good to see him trying to play through pain, which he rarely attempted in Indiana....Jose Calderon has been battling a hamstring injury but it seems he may be turning corner. He went nearly two weeks without scoring more than 13 points (his only double-digit effort in that span), but has scored 40 points to go with 24 assists in his last two games.

Washington Wizards
Coach Eddie Jordan was fired recently after a 1-10 start. He has been replaced by the Wizards' director of player development Ed Tapscott. With a title like that, you have to like the younger Wizards players' chances of seeing more minutes. Players such as JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche, Dominic McGuire, Dee Brown and Nick Young could get more minutes while veterans Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels and DeShawn Stevenson could see less action...After an inconsistent start to the season, Antawn Jamison has posted five straight double-doubles. Although the team seems to be on an inevitable downhill slide, his effort has been exceptional. He has posted back-to-back season-high point totals in his last two games.