Our weekly digest of everything fantasy hockey. Facts don't lie and Power Plays is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Nov. 12-Nov. 18. Stats through Nov. 11:


Utah Jazz, PG
Comment: Williams has been the catalyst for the Jazz to start the season. He's averaging career highs across the board and filling up the box score regularly. The Jazz play four games this week, none against a real contender, so look for his hot start to continue.

Denver Nuggets, SG
Comment: Hate him or love him, Iverson is "stronger than ever" even in his 12th season. AI is still taking (and making) shots you never thought possible. Translation: 25 points, eight assists and three steals a game. Don't expect anything less.

Cleveland Cavaliers, SF
Comment: King James has been his usual dominating self to start the season: 27 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and more than a steal and block per game. He doesn't have the Cavs playing like contenders (just 3-3), but he can fill a stat line like no other. Now if he could just pull up his free throw percentage a bit...

Boston Celtics, PF
Comment: The Big Ticket has been a big bang in Boston. He's shooting nearly 60 percent from the field, pulling down 15.8 boards a game and averaging a tasty six assists per contest. It's too early to calls the Celtics powerhouses just yet, but right now they're the team to beat in the East.

Orlando Magic, C
Comment: The addition of Rashard Lewis in Orlando has freed up Howard in the paint, and he is posting career numbers as a result. If the nearly 15 rebounds and 21 points aren't enough for you, how about the 2.5 blocks he's averaging a game. Howard has propelled the Magic out of the doldrums of the Eastern Conference, where the Magic are currently tied for second.
Washington Wizards, PG
Comment: Injury concerns aside, Arenas just hasn't been his usual self to start the season. He's shooting just 36 percent from the field and his 4.4 assists a game is hardly the type of numbers you want out of a No. 1 point guard. The Wizards have opened the season 0-5, and Agent Zero must be worrying.

Atlanta Hawks, SG
Comment: The Hawks opened the season by picking up impressive wins against Dallas and Phoenix. But they've also dropped games against Boston, New Jersey and Detroit. And Johnson, usually the Hawks resident go-to-guy, has been largely absent (41% FG and 19.4 PPG). He must step up his play if the Hawks want to get out of the cellar of the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers, SF
Comment: Korver was expected to elevate his game this season with Allen Iverson gone and a roster of relative unknowns. Instead he has floundered, averaging just 10 points on 37 percent shooting. Korver has proven he can be more than just a three-point threat; now he has to deliver.

Phoenix Suns, PF
Comment: Stoudemire has only played in three games due to knee surgery and has not contributed so far, aside from his great opening night game. He seems to be making progress with his knee and claims he is taking his time to not risk further injury; stay strong folks, Amare will be back with a vengeance soon.

Miami Heat, C
Comment: It's a sad day when Shaq makes this kind of list. But his numbers just don't warrant him any dignified mention. We know he's slowing down, but 15 points and seven rebounds on Dwyane Wade-less team is not what owners were hoping for — and, yes, he's shooting only 40 percent from the charity stripe.


New Jersey Nets, PG
Comment: Typical triple-double production every night from Kidd: eight points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and nearly three steals per game. Kidd might be the most complete player in the game today.

New Orleans Hornets, PG
Comment: Paul could end up taking over Kidd's territory for triple double king; He's averaging 19 points, five rebounds and nearly 12 assists a game. Throw in those three steals and you might have this year's best fantasy basketball player.

New York Knicks, SG
Comment: No one expected these sorts of numbers: 25 points, three rebounds, seven assists and two steals a game. Could he lead the Knicks back to playoff glory? Let's get serious; he's not this good. Ride him while he’s hot and trade him before his stock plummets.

Las Angeles Lakers, SG
Comment: Honestly, does this surprise you at all? Kobe is once again leading the league in scoring (30.5 points per game). But it's his eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks per game that are mind-boggling. Remember Phil Jackson's pre-season comments about his lack of effort? Neither do we. Kobe will continue dropping big games, while the trade rumors seem dead for now.

Atlanta Hawks, SF
Comment: Smith is putting up insane numbers right now (18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, 3.5 steals, four blocks per game). You can read that again if you want. Seriously, read that again. Wow. Although these numbers are a bit freakish, Smith is still one of the most underrated players in the NBA and will continue to drop big stat lines every night.

Memphis Grizzlies, SF
Comment: This Grizzly is playing like one; Miller is averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists so far. What does this mean? Miller is here to stay. With Pau Gasol off to a slow start, somebody had to pick up the slack.

Utah Jazz, PF
Comment: Boozer has started this season on a tear and proved last season was no fluke. His 25 points and nearly 13 rebounds are nice, but when is he going to start blocking the ball? Nitpicking aside, he has finally laid to rest criticism about his dedication and talent.

Boston Celtics, PF
Comment: He's doing what every Knicks fan dreaded — reviving the glory days of Boston. The Big Ticket is going absolutely nuts with the Celtics and has averaged 23 points and 15 rebounds with six assists. Don't expect those numbers to drop anytime soon; he should be hot for the rest of his career.

Las Angeles Clippers, C
Comment: He's playing well, he's on a four game point streak and is more than a point per game. Why am I telling you to sit him? His only matchups this week are the offensively gifted 'Canes and Caps. Mix that in with Richards' atrocious minus-10 rating and the fact that he has shown no explosiveness thus far (only two multipoint games).

Denver Nuggets, C
Comment: Camby has more rebounds than Vince Carter has points. And if that isn't enough, he's averaging three blocks a game. Those are monster numbers for such a fragile player; he should continue with the big stats but just wait until he ends his season by jamming his thumb in his car door.


Philadelphia 76ers, PG
Comment: Miller is usually one of the games most underrated assist men, averaging eight or more right under everyone's eyes, but not yet this season. He's only averaging about four right now, but on this young and inexperienced 76ers team it's only natural. Don't expect the old Miller back.

Washington Wizards, PG
Comment: When you're addressing your fantasy owners via blog to tell them to hold on just a little longer, you know you're not doing so well. Although he's averaging 20 points, his four assists and lone three-pointer a game are extremely low. He's been on and off, nursing an off-season knee injury, and should be back to form soon. Agent Zero seems more determined to pad his own stats rather than lead his winless Wizards to victory — perhaps a good thing for owners.

Charlotte Bobcats, SG
Comment: After dropping 21 and 29 points to open the season, Richardson has gone cold, hardly scoring the past three games. It can't last for too long on such a young team, but he does have a history of injury and underperformance. This is Emeka Okafor's team now.

New Jersey Nets, SG
Comment: Prince Vince has been dogging it for sure. For a guy that has averaged 24 points and 45 percent shooting, with a long history of dominating opponents, Carter has been largely silent. He's posting just 17 on 39.5 percent from the floor while Jason Richardson is putting up career highs.

Houston Rockets, SF
Comment: Battier has long been a fantasy fan-favorite. But on a revamped Rockets squad he's averaging less than 10 points and four rebounds a game. With T-Mac and Yao hoarding the vital statistics, don't expect him to get back on his game anytime soon.

New Orleans Hornets, SF
Comment: After a myriad of injuries limited this once great sharpshooter to just 13 games last season, not many were many high on the prospect of a comeback with a youthful Hornets squad. He's putting up his worst numbers since 1999 and shooting under 40 percent for the first time since his rookie campaign. At this point in his career he's nothing more than a stand-still shooter.

Toronto Raptors, PF
Comment: Bosh has played absolutely horrible so far, averaging 15 points, six rebounds and one assist while only blocking less than two shots a game. Expect a big turnaround soon folks; don't give up on the kid. A talent like this doesn't go to waste.

Indiana Pacers, PF
Comment: This O'Neal isn't playing so hot either; only 14 points and seven rebounds from the big boy. It could be a number of reasons, one being trade rumors, another being the emergence of Danny Granger, but he'll find his stride soon enough.

Miami Heat, C
Comment: Remember the glory days of Shaq? Remember when he was an unstoppable force averaging nearly 30 points and 12 rebounds? Well those days are over. We love you Shaq, but we hate your 15 points and seven rebounds. Shaq has lost a step or two entering his old age, has a divorce cluttering his head and he's missing Dwayne Wade to boot. Just cut your ties, drop him and be done with it.

Detroit Pistons, C
Comment: Wallace is only averaging five rebounds and one block a game. WHAT?! A pre-season ankle injury, couple with the emergence of Tyrus Thomas and Joe Smith, has led to a reduced role in the early going of the season. And judging by their 1-5 record, this isn't a good thing.



Drew Schustek is UPDATE! Basketball Editor.

39 Phoenix Suns backup Leandro Barbosa scored a career-high 39 points on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.

13.5 Rebounds per game New York Knicks forward Zach Randolph averages, easily doubling center Eddy Curry's six rebounds per game.

9 On Nov. 9 Andrei Kirilink put up this monster state line: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 blocks and 4 steals. The return of AK-47 is in sight.

4 Four teams remain winless still: Miami, Minnesota, Seattle and Golden State.


Las Angeles Lakers, SF
Comment: Luke Walton might never approach his fathers heightened sense of the game. But he is one of the most complete players on the Lakers. He's averaging eight points, five rebounds and four assists a game. And while those numbers won't knock you out, he will keep on silently producing all season long.

Thursday, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT
The Spurs won the NBA Championship last season. The Mavericks won 60 games and were heavy finals favorites. These two Western Conference monsters meet up for the first time this season in what promises to be a matchup to remember. The Spurs are trying to extend their dynasty and the Mavericks are trying to start one. Who'll come out on top?


CELTICS OPENING NIGHT