2k Beats
1/7 Roster Highlights
By 2K Insider | Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Latest News - Carmelo Anthony will miss the next month or so with a fractured hand, so look for Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith to pick up the scoring slack. Obviously they can't replace what Melo brings to the team, but at least they have a veteran point guard like Chauncey Billups to help stabilize them. Luke Walton was starting for the Lakers until he injured his foot. Although Vladimir Radmanovic takes his starting spot, it's Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom who will be leaned on more by Phil Jackson. Ariza is a Laker fan favorite with his hustle, defense and athleticism. Jordan Farmar will miss about 8 weeks due to a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Starting centers Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Darko Milicic are out for their respective teams. Anderson Varejao steps in for Big Z while Marc Gasol reclaims a starting spot in Memphis. The Clipper injury bug has hit Baron Davis and Zach Randolph, in addition to Chris Kaman. Their disappointing season continues its downward spiral. Mickael Pietrus is once again out of the Magic rotation with a fracture in his right wrist. Both Jermaine O'Neal [sore knee] and Jose Calderon [strained hamstring] are day to day for the Raptors. Returning from injury recently are Kevin Martin and Corey Maggette. Kevin Martin has been on fire in the last 5 games since missing the previous 10, averaging a cool 30 ppg. Maggette returned to the Warriors after missing 15 games with a bad hamstring. Nenad Krstic is back in the NBA, this time with the Thunder after the Nets declined to match their offer. As a result, Steven Hill was waived to make room for Krstic. Others who were waived recently include Darius Miles, Shaun Livingston, Dee Brown, Austin Croshere, Paul Davis, and DeMarcus Nelson.
Biggest Movers - Second year guard, Rodney Stuckey, has played so well lately that the NBA named him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 23.0 points, 5.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds as the Pistons went 4-0 for the week and 13-3 with Stuckey as a starter. Boris Diaw is playing like he did in 2005-06 when he won the Most Improved Player award. He is filling the stat sheet as the starting power forward for Charlotte, who have gone 6-6 with Diaw in the lineup. Delonte West is providing Cleveland with 3pt shooting and pressing defense as their starting 2 guard. He, along with Mo Williams, are stretching opposing defenses so that LeBron James can operate. Jarrett Jack has found a home in Indiana and won the starting point guard position. It's probably no coincidence that this is a contract year for Jack, which probably has his agent smiling. Daequan Cook has provided the Miami Heat with accurate 3pt shooting off the bench. It remains to be seen what Cook's role will be once James Jones returns to the lineup, but for now Daequan is knocking them down from deep. Rashard Lewis had a cold November, shooting 0.409 from the field, but his FG% in December was up to 0.474. He's a tough cover playing power forward because he can knock down the 3 if you sag off him and blow by slower bigs if they crowd him. Brook Lopez has made the Nets look good for taking him with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft. He has provided New Jersey with strong rebounding, good shot blocking and solid scoring down low. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of Jamaal Magloire, who has looked lethargic in limited minutes for the Heat. This was supposed to be a perfect fit for Miami, who could not afford to sign a proven center. It looks like they got what they paid for.
