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. 6-Dec. 12. Stats through Jan. 5:


New Orleans Hornets, PG
Comment: Paul has the Hornets playing some of the best ball in the league. Their tied with the Dallas Mavericks for second in the Western Convference and his numbers this week (19 points, 12 assists and three three steals) have been silly.

Charlotte Bobcats, SG
Comment: 29 points and 3.5 nightly threes over the past week with .533 FG%. It's a shame this team doesn't win more. Richardson is finally healthy and playing well.

New Jersey Nets, SF
Comment: Carter has the Nets back on track and playing .500 ball again. He's done it with 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists over the past week.

Washington Wizards, PF
Comment: With Gilbert Arenas missing, someone has to fill the giant void he's left, and Jamison is doing some job. Over his last eight games he's averaged 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, along with 1.6 three pointers a night.

Denver Nuggets, C
Comment: Camby has been a monster lately, averaging 14.3 reabounds and 5 blocks over the last six games. Not surprisingly, the Nuggets won five of those games.
Phoenix Suns, PG
Comment: After missing 10 games grieving the death of his father, Marbury returned for the last two games and did...absolutely nothing. Drop him, folks. If you hadn't given up on him already, please do so now.

Atlanta Hawks, SG
Comment: Will he ever become the fantasy star we thought he could be? He's averaging 11 points and five rebounds currently. The only positive is .his 568 FG%, but that comes on slim seven shots per game.

Orlando Magic, SF
Comment: 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and 2.6 treys this season compared to Hedo Turkoglu's 19.5 points, six rebounds, four assists with 2.3 treys. Who deserves the monster contract now?

Phoenix Suns, PF
Comment: The Matrix surely isn't playing like "The One". Marion has not been playing up to par the past five games, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds. Although he averages only 16 points, the two-rebound hit takes its toll on fantasy owners..

Detroit Pistons, C
Comment: Wallace has averaged 11 points and seven rebounds over his last seven games with a .390 FG%. Nevertheless, the Pistons have won the quietest ten straight games in sports history.


Toronto Raptors, PG
Comment: Calderon has been playing at an incredible level for the Raptors and has taken over the assists for T.J. Ford quite nicely. While Ford is out, Calderon is a must start every night.

New Orleans Hornets, PG
Comment: He's posting almost three steals per game while dropping mind boggling points and assists every night? I'd say start him.

New Jersey Nets, SG
Comment: Carter has been hot of recent, only dropping less than 20 points one time in his last seven games.

Philadelphia 76ers, SG
Comment: A.I. 2.0 is a straight up thief and a fantasy stud this season, balancing his game out and affirming his name among some of the more talented players in the league. Stardom? Perhaps soon.

Wasshington Wizards, SF
Comment: Butler has not fallen off and has still been playing at an elevated level, averaging 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Boston Celtics, SF
Comment: Pierce has propelled the Celtics to the best record in the league. He's the consumate NBA-player and a coaches dream. He does it all.

New Orleans Hornets, PF
Comment: West is the closest thing to 20-10 without 20-10 name power.

Denver Nuggets, PF
Comment: Martin recently returned from a hamstring injury and showed no signs of ill effect. That means he's a must start again.

Cleveland Cavaliers, C
Comment: We're finally seeing some strong rebounding from Z, who's averaging 10 boards this year. Although his points aren't sexy, his FG% and FT% are, so he's a must play everynight.

New Orleans Hornets, C
Comment: I promise this will be the last time you hear this: the Bulls regret giving up this big cat. Chandler is averaging 12 points and 12 rebounds with a FG% that could make a kitty purr. Just beware of his FT%, which hovers around 60 percent.


New York Knicks, PG
Comment: Too bad I don't have a "drop" column. He's done, folks. He will never help your fantasy team, nor any real team.

Memphis Grizzlies, PG
Comment: He wants out of Memphis and he'll get his wishes. Conley has taken over in Memphis and Damon should see no burn until he's representing some new colors.

Sacramento Kings, SG
Comment: Martin is scheduled to return in a week or two, but not just yet. Hold on a little longer for Martin. I feel your pain fans.

Houston Rockets, SG
Comment: Can he get through one season, ever? T-Mac has missed his last five games and says he still needs another week or so.

Portland Trail Blazers, SF
Comment: Webster showed signs of fantasy greatness and made us think he could be this year's big pickup. Well, he proved us all wrong, so forget it. He fell off just as quick as he came up.

Chicago Bulls, SF
Comment: Nocioni showed big promise last season, but has done nothing to show us he's ready to take the next step, even with Deng out.

Portland Trail Blazers, PF
Comment: While the Blazers are hot, he is not. Don't be fooled by the team he's on; stop picking him up off of the free agent list, people!

Toronto Raptors, PF
Comment: Bargnani has been ineffective since his return from injury. He has found his playing time shrinking steadily as the Raptors mix and choose their lineups on a daily basis. Don't expect a return to form soon.

Boston Celtics, C
Comment: Even though Perkins is getting meaningful minutes, he's not exactly lighting up the scoreboard. In nearly 25 minutes a game he's averaging seven points and 5.5 rebounds.

Houston Rockets, C
Comment: Yao makes this list just because of the significant drop-off in his level of play this season. He's regressed substantially and failed to lead his team to the top of the Western Conference standings. It's time to blowup this Yao-McGrady paring.



Drew Schustek is UPDATE! Basketball Editor.

60 Assists New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul has in his last five games compared to just six turnovers over that same span.

8 Assists per game Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon averages, which is more assists than Allen Iverson, Baron Davis and LeBron James.

8 Rebounds per game David Lee is averaging in only 26 minutes. Knicks fans are grinding their teeth.

8 New Jersey Nets point gaurd Jason Kidd recorded his eight triple-double of the season in a 102-96 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.


Memphis Grizzlies, PG
Comment: Damon Stoudamire is demanding a trade and rumors suggest Memphis is actively shopping him; Conley now has the starting role for the Grizzlies and could put up some beefy stats.

Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
Stars Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul going head to head is too good to pass up; if you have the chance to watch this, do so. It should be a great battle in the middle with stud Andrew Bynum and Tyson Chandler fighting for space in the paint. Tune in to see two of the best teams in the West go at it.

WADE ALLEY OOP