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RotoBaller is bringing you another injury-plagued week in review. Are you starting to panic after your star went down? Are you debating whether X player will be able to return at 100%? We have you covered as RotoBaller Max Loudermilch lends some insight.
NBA Injury Updates for Fantasy Basketball
Tyreke Evans (SG/SF) – The Pelicans are in red alert as they battle their way out of a seven game losing streak. Evans is part of the problem, having tweaked his left ankle a whopping three times this season. He sprained it again last Friday and has missed the last three games. This is the kind of player that returns mid-round value when healthy. In the last six games he played, Evans averaged 13.3 PPG, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals, so it's not a question of ability. He's currently receiving laser stem and ultra cell treatment for his ankle. Should he return tonight, there's no telling what his body will do. If you have a full roster starting, then you might want to sit him out a couple games.
Jrue Holiday (PG) – Another casualty in New Orleans, Holiday's leg fracture was rumored to be “approximately a month away” according to an unidentified source. That was a week ago. Unfortunately, we have no reliable information that Holiday will, in fact, return. We have not heard about any progress, and the Pelicans have not announced a timetable. He's a hold for the immediate future, but the future does not look bright.
Patrick Beverley (PG/SG) – Yahoo! Sports reported yesterday that Houston's backup point guard will return to the lineup. Before the fractured hand, Beverley was a decent deep league option. Don't get excited just yet, though. He hasn't played since Dec. 21, which should prompt you to expect the Rockets to put on the training wheels. Added to an already streaky performance this season, he's best left on the wire until he proves otherwise.
Amare Stoudemire (PF, C) – He's out for two weeks or more. This is essentially the nail in the coffin, as STAT doesn't put up many stats. He's had a few great games and a whole lot of mediocre performances. Over the season, Stoudemire is averaging just 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. You can do better.
Deron Williams (PG) – As if Brooklyn had enough problems, their star point guard's (underrated, some might argue) ankles just won't hold up. Because of this nagging issue, he has missed over a dozen games this season. Williams won't return until at least Monday. “I think we're going to wait and see how he feels when we get back,” said Billy King, the Nets' GM, referring to their trip to London. Owners should be happy with holding onto him; even when Williams goes on scoring slumps, he will still deliver in assists per game (6.9). Again, his ankles have been a problem for awhile now, but he's still managed to ride the injuries out and play well when healthy.
Tony Parker (PG) – His shin isn't really a big deal. Greg Popovich knows how to play his man and has kept Parker under a minute restriction, trying to play him closer to 30 MPG. Parker was outstanding his previous four games before bruising himself, averaging 22.7 points and 8.2 assists. Just wait for the Frenchman to walk it off and enjoy the rain.
Follow me on Twitter @MaxLoudermilch and check back next week as we recap the upcoming week's latest NBA Injury News and discuss how to manage your fantasy basketball team.
