Our weekly digest of everything fantasy basketball. Facts don't lie and the Hoop Scoop is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Jan. 21-Jan. 27. Stats through Jan. 20:


Los Angeles Clippers, PG
Comment: Cassell sat out nearly a month with injury and is only now rounding into form. He averaged 23.3 points and 6.7 assists on 57.7 percent shooting in three games last week. He's getting older, but he's still got game.

Boston Celtics, SG
Comment: Allen, hobbled by a gimpy ankle, has seen his numbers dip quite a bit this season. But last week he looked solid, averaging 24.7 points, four assists and nearly two steals on 53.3 percent shooting. Even alongside Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Allen is still a huge fantasy factor.

Cleveland Cavaliers, SF
Comment: King James poured in 51 points against the Memphis Grizzlies last week. He also had eight rebounds and nine assists in that contest. If he could just pull up his free throw percentage (69.8), he'd be the most complete fantasy player in the league.

Toronto Raptors, PF
Comment: Bosh has been monstrous of late, averaging 30.8 points and 10.5 rebounds over his last six games. Losing T.J. Ford for an extended period of time hurts, but Bosh seems determined to will his Raptors to victory.

Denver Nuggets, C
Comment: Camby averaged 18 boards in four games last week. The big man also swatted 21 balls over this span, including one game with 11 blocks. He might be the most underrated big man in the league. Let's just hope he stays healthy.
Los Angeles Lakers, PG
Comment: With Andrew Bynum out for two months, someone other than Kobe Bryant has to step up for the Lakers. It hasn't been Fisher however; he averaged just eight points and 1.3 assists in four games last week.

Boston Celtics, SG
Comment: After an amazing stretch of basketball earlier this season, the Big Three seem to be taking it easy in Boston. Pierce has cracked 20 points just twice in nine games this month, and the Celtics are 3-3 over their last six games.

New Jersey Nets, SF
Comment: The Nets have been serious underachievers this season, but up until now Jefferson has avoided that label. He averaged 17 points on 31.7 percent shooting in three games last week though, and the Nets have lost five of six.

Dallas Mavericks, PF
Comment: Last season's MVP has steadied his scoring, but where did his outstanding rebounding prowess go to? He's averaged just 6.5 boards over his last six games; that's not what you want out of a first-round draft pick.

Chicago Bulls, C
Comment: This former defensive stalwart has averaged just 5.3 rebounds over his past four games. With less than a block a game, virtually no assists and a horrible free throw percentage, Wallace is looking less and less like a smart draft pick.


Sacramento Kings, PG
Comment: After missing the first half of the season with a thumb injury, Bibby is finally back on the court. He should crack the starting lineup before long, and help fantasy owners who've been hording him on the bench.

Denver Nuggets, PG
Comment: Iverson has played like a man half his age while leading his team to a 6-3 record this month. His shooting percentages are up and he's even rebounding the ball a bit.

Sacramento Kings, SG
Comment: Martin has established himself as the No. 1 scorer on the Kings. Since returning from injury on Jan. 14, he has yet to score less than 20 points — a span of five games.

Seattle SuperSonics, SG
Comment: Wally World has been the only consistent threat during the Sonics' 10-game losing streak. He's averaged 18.8 points and has yet to shoot less than 50 percent over the last five games.

Atlanta Hawks, SF
Comment: Williams is the best player you've never heard about. This 6-9, 22-year-old has helped the underrated Hawks stay afloat in the Eastern Conference.

Utah Jazz, SF
Comment: The Utah Jazz have won five of their last six games, but to be fair Kirilenko has had little to do with that. Still, he's fantasy force that can effectively fill multiple categories. Stick with him; he will reward you.

Golden State Warriors, PF
Comment: Harrington scored 27 in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, and though he has been in coach Don Nelson's dog-house, he has played admirably of late. Over his last three games he's averaged 18.7 points and seven rebounds.

Indiana Pacers, PF
Comment: With Jermain O'Neal sidelined for some time, Granger will be the main beneficiary on the offense. He's already having a career year and he could see a substantial increase in his numbers with O'Neal out.

Sacramento Kings, C
Comment: Miller has enjoyed something of a resurgence this season. He's been helped by the myriad of injuries that have befallen his teammates. Plus, he's remained healthy. He might be one of the most underrated fantasy centers out there.

Minnesota Timberwolves, C
Comment: Jefferson has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming Timberwolves squad. He's a reliable fantasy option simply because the T-Wolves have absolutely no one else that can perform.


Boston Celtics, PG
Comment: Rondo's missed three of the past four games with a sore lower back. The sad reality is that he wasn't playing particularly well before the injury, so expect this to slow him down.

New York Knicks, PG
Comment: Marbury has elected to undergo ankle surgery and will miss the remainder of the season in all likihood. His play had grown increasingly erratic in recent weeks anyway.

Sacramento Kings, SG
Comment: Salmons has enjoyed a successful season; however, with Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin all back on the court, Salmons won't be see as many touches. He'll remain effective, but only in short bursts.

Phoenix Suns, SG
Comment: Hill's still recovering from an appendectomy and should be unavailble this. Bench him for now and in daily leagues monitor his status as the week progresses

Los Angeles Lakers, SF
Comment: After a breakout 2006-07, Walton has regressed across the board. He's still getting the minutes, he's just not putting up the stats.

Portland Trail Blazers, SF
Comment: Webster has cracked doubled-figures in scoring in just one of his last five games and seen his effectiveness decrease with Travis Outlaw's emergence. Bench him until he proves he can still score.

Denver Nuggets, PF
Comment: Even though Nene and Eduardo Najera are out, Martin has to be sat. He's battling a staph infection and is unlikey for Monday's game against the Lakers.

Memphis Grizzlies, PF
Comment: Darko's been picking up blocks, but nothing else. He's been hampered by a broken finger, suffered earlier in the season. Still, he's contributing almost nothing right now.

Los Angeles Lakers, C
Comment: Bynum is out for at least eight weeks with a sore knee. Plan on benching him; he's too valuable to drop.

Chicago Bulls, C
Comment: 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks from Wallace is nice, but under five points and 33 percent shooting is killer.



Drew Schustek is UPDATE! Basketball Editor.

89 Indiana Pacers F/C Jermaine O'Neal has missed 89 games over the past 3 1/2 seasons because of injuries, illness and suspension.

35 Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett is averaging 35 minutes a game, his lowest total since his rookie season.

24 Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby tied his career high with 24 rebounds against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 17. He's recorded 24 rebounds four times in his career — all in January.

20 Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash totaled 20 assists on Jan. 17. Nash leads the league with 12.3 assists a game, but this was his first 20-assist effort of the season.


Washington Wizards, SG
Comment: There's a good chance Bibby has been sitting on the waiver wire for some time in your league. Many owners don't like to carry dead weight, and let's face it, Bibby has been exactly that since breaking his thumb. If he's available, grab him quick. He won't stay unowned for long.

Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT-TV
The Lakers have emerged as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. Can they stay on the top of the standings without Andrew Bynum though? The Nuggets will look to knock the Lakers off their perch and win their third straight contest in this matchup of the West's bests.

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