Melo took advantage of the Knicks' "defense," Mike Dunleavy is back, and could the 76ers be thinking about bringing a familiar face back into the fold? Read on for Friday's action in bullet form …

• Not much defense in Denver on Friday, as the Nuggets came away with a 128-125 win over the Knicks. The teams combined to shoot 51 percent from the field, make 23 threes, and logged a 59:19 assist-to-turnover ratio. The big winners: Carmelo Anthony (career-high 50 points, 15-of-16 FT), Al Harrington (41 points, 4 threes, 10 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks), Chauncey Billups (32 points, 4 threes, 8 assists), David Lee (23 points, 10 boards, 4 assists), and Larry Hughes (16 points, 3 threes, 9 assists, 2 steals). Chris Duhon even got in on the action (12 points, 3 threes, 6 assists) now that his starting job is in jeopardy.

• Jrue Holiday will have to step into the void created by Louis Williams' broken jaw, an injury that is expected to sideline him for up to two months. Holiday was a mixed bag on Friday versus the Hawks (25 minutes, 2 points, 1-of-8 shooting, 5 assists, 0 turnovers, 2 steals). Best-case scenario for him would be a poor man's version of what Williams was able to accomplish in terms of points, threes, assists, and steals. Holiday is a bit hard to project given his limited college resume, but he won't be lacking for opportunity in the short-term. That is, as long as the Sixers don't sign a particular unnamed recently retired former Sixer. … What made Williams so great for fantasy to this point was his fantastic efficiency (50% FG, 83% FT, 1.8 TO) – the fact that Williams is currently near the top of both the roto and h2h lists for "MVPs" is no coincidence, and he'll be sorely missed by his fantasy owners.

• Elton Brand missed his second straight game due to a sore right hamstring, but was a game-time decision and could be back when the 76ers take on the Spurs on Sunday. Jason Smith made his second start, totaling 14 points, five boards, a steal, and two blocks in 28 minutes. Smith is exactly the kind of player that the Princeton offense calls for, in that he's a big that can board, block shots, and step outside and hit the three. He won't get consistent playing time in the present without a major injury or a Samuel Dalembert trade, but he's one to pay particular attention to when he does get some run.

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T-Mac says he's ready, but the Rockets disagree; that intrigue, plus updates on Biedrins, Rip, and Tyrus in your late Tuesday bullets...

• Tracy McGrady went through his first full practice of the season Monday without any complications, meaning he's at least a bit closer to seeing the floor than he was previously. That's about as much clarity as the situation got in the 24 hours or so since. McGrady admitted that he needs to work on his fitness level and get back in game "rhythm", but added that he feels ready to go whenever the Rockets want him to:

"I feel I can play, but the coach and the GM obviously feel different. They run this team and until they feel I'm ready to play, then I guess I'll be watching."

The team (by way of assistant coach Elston Turner) reiterated its stance in regards to getting him back on the active roster, treating this first practice like the start of his training camp:

"What athlete, what former All-Star, wouldn't want to play? He's gone through a major surgery and he is coming back and it's a process to get him back on the court full time. But when you're building a team, there's chemistry that develops so when he does come back we would like him to be back -- instead of in a week, out a week. He went though through the workout today, he started and he finished but it’s still a process and we have to bring him back slowly."

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Schedule Breakdown

Four-game teams: DAL, DEN, LAC, MEM, MIL, MIN, NJN, NYK, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR

Three-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAL, MIA, OKC, PHO, UTH, WAS

Two-game teams: CHI, NOR

Also see: Basketball Monster's ease rankings and Rotowire's value meter

Pickups/Plug-ins

• Chris Andersen – For all the talk of how disappointing Andersen's production has been, he's still averaged 6.8 boards and 1.4 blocks in just 22 minutes while dealing with knee tendinitis. The knee is getting better and, from a matchup standpoint, you can't do any better than the Nuggets in Week 5 (NJN, @MIN, NYK, MIN).

• Anthony Morrow – Morrow has been up and down since joining the Warriors' starting five, but overall he's been solid in November (13.2 points on 56/56/90, 2.3 threes, 4 boards, and 1.1 steals in 32 minutes) and the playing time isn't going anywhere. Week 5: @DAL, @SAS, LAL

• Mike Dunleavy – Dunleavy could be back on the Pacers' active roster as soon as Wednesday, and now is the time to grab him if he's on the wire in your league. Be prepared for minimal production in the early-going, but the payoff down the line is what we're after here. Week 5: @TOR, LAC, DAL

• Randy Foye – Foye should get plenty of run while Mike Miller is sidelined (four to five weeks), even if it's DeShawn Stevenson who gets the call as the starter. There's only so much usage available after the team's big three get their share, but his playing time should be largely unchallenged. Week 5: PHI, @MIA, CHA 

• Beno Udrih – Different week, same story here. In seven games as a starter, he's averaged 17.1 points on 52-percent shooting, 1.3 threes, and 5 assists in 37 minutes, and Kevin Martin still has a ways to go before he'll return. Week 5: @MEM, NYK, NJN, NOR

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The Knicks have shunned AI, Bogut is back on the shelf, and the Curry Line's namesake is back in action. All that and notables from Friday's action in bullet form …

• The Knicks will not make an offer to Allen Iverson, with Mike D'Antoni citing their young roster as the main reason:

“With the development of some of our young guys and with Gallo and Wilson and Toney Douglas and Eddy, we just didn't think right now we wanted to have that dominant force on the team."

It will be interesting to see what is next for AI. With neither the Heat nor the Bobcats looking like they are ready to bring him aboard, he's looking at unemployment for at least the near future. Perhaps it will take a major injury to a team's starting guard to eventually move the needle here. Or perhaps Iverson's rant after just one game with the Grizz this season will prove to be to be his ultimate undoing. Those of you that added AI in recent days can think about another player off the wire (Ersan Ilyasova? Jared Dudley?) – even if he were to sign with Miami or Charlotte, the fantasy potential won't approach what might have been in New York.

• Eddy Curry played all of 12 minutes on Wednesday, but he's already generating enough buzz to have D'Antoni bring his name up with the likes of Gallinari and Chander. So who does Curry take minutes from in the event that he's playing 25 per game? They will most likely come from Jared Jeffries first, Larry Hughes second, and Al Harrington third. I'll stop short of an endorsement – the Curry Line exists for a reason – but it'd be unwise to completely ignore a player with offensive talent in the Knicks' system, and the organization would certainly like for him to succeed. Deep-leaguers with a roster spot in play should consider a move here, particularly if they are short on bigs or need help in FG%.

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Elton Brand's big game on Wednesday takes center stage as we scan the league for news-worthy items from over the past few days.

• Okay, so it was just one game. Good luck convincing Elton Brand's fantasy owners to limit their exuberance after his 19 points, 11 boards, 3 steals, and 6 blocks in 42 minutes (!) against the Bobcats on Wednesday night. When you also consider that there was talk of his being moved to the bench – for Rodney Carney, of all people – in the days leading up to the game, then it's pretty easy to see what the fuss is all about. Perhaps it's just coincidence, but Brand finally got the Marreese Speights treatment (getting run at center in a small lineup), and he delivered his first substantial line of the season.

So now we need to qualify things. It's unrealistic to expect Brand to see 42 minutes per game, even while Speights is sidelined, and a single game against a small Bobcats lineup isn't a true litmus test in terms of expectations going forward. Brand's fantasy owners should keep their fingers crossed and an eye on the schedule – upcoming matchups include the Grizzlies, Cavs, Wizards, Celtics, Hawks and Spurs and will be a much truer test of Brand's game (not to mention Eddie Jordan's rotation). Jordan had this to say after Wednesday's win:

People have been pushing us around. Elton and I had a couple conversations and at first I said, 'Just play hard and execute and sort of be the physical fulcrum for us, the guy that gets it done physically for us.' When you're a pro like him, there's a lot of things you can call upon to motivate you. You can summon up other experiences to get you going. Hopefully this is one of them. He's a pro, man. He's got a lot of confidence and a lot of pride.

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Here is your major news of the day, with the lead story of course being that the Warriors were able to find a taker for Stephen Jackson (and everything that comes with him).

• Desperate times call for desperate measures, at least that has to be the line of thinking for the Bobcats, who have dealt Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law. When you consider who is comfortably at the bottom of this list, it makes the move seem a bit less outlandish from a big picture perspective. Think about it – the Bobcats have averaged almost a dozen points less than the seventh-worst scoring team in the league, and over 29 points less than the league-leading Warriors! It may sound counter-intuitive, but Jackson should help them improve their league-worst shooting percentage (39%). His own number won't be much above that mark, but starters like Gerald Wallace (35%), Boris Diaw (45%), and Raymond Felton (36%) all will benefit from the added offensive threat from an efficiency standpoint, although Jackson's presence cuts into their offensive volume. Considering how anemic the offense has been to this point, I'm inclined to view this as a positive for at least Wallace and Diaw. On the downside, Felton will lose at least some of his distribution responsibilities, and D.J. Augustin's role becomes even more limited. The proverbial "big if": if Jackson can play at least somewhat within himself, then he could actually help this team.

Of course, we're handing out universal upgrades in Oakland, although the usual qualifier about specifics applies (as in, good luck prognosticating Nellie's whims). Everyone should be "feeling" better with Jackson out of the picture, and his usage will be spread throughout the team. Monta Ellis becomes the true offensive alpha dog and is looking at a real opportunity to excel. Bell figures to join the starting five here in very short order and, as a career 41-percent shooter from long-range, should find plenty of success in the Warriors free-flowing system. If you need threes, go get him now. Anthony Morrow, Corey Maggette, and Stephen Curry will see more time and usage as a result of the trade and Kelenna Azubuike's injury. And Radmanovic, who is of little use in most scenarios, could actually emerge as a Nellie favorite, since he's tall (6-foot-10) and can knock down a three (career 38%). He should at least get a chance to show something in the short-term, as the team is still without Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf. Deep-leaguers will want to use a speculative add here, in the event that the shots fall early for VladRad and he finds himself in Nellie's good graces. Anthony Randolph owners should continue to have no expectations of consistency. 

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Schedule Breakdown

Four-game teams: ATL, CHA, CLE, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NOR, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR

Three-game teams: BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, GSW, LAC, LAL, MEM, NJN, NYK, PHI, PHO, SAC, SAS, UTH, WAS

Two-game teams: MIN

Also see: Basketball Monster's ease rankings and Rotowire's value meter

Pickups/Plug-ins

• Carl Landry - Landry has averaged 15.4 points on 61-percent shooting, 5 boards, 0.6 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 85-percent foul shooting over the past seven games, and that includes Friday night's stinker (2 points, 1-of-6 shooting). Houston has arguably the best schedule of the week (PHO, @MIN, @ATL, SAC) and Landry remains the team's premier offensive threat off the bench.

• Kirk Hinrich - Saturday night was an indication of Hinrich's potential when shots actually fall for him (19 points, 2 threes, 4 boards, 7 assists). As mentioned last week, the playing time isn't going anywhere and he won't shoot 38 percent all season. Week 4: @SAC, @LAL, @DEN

• Anthony Morrow - Kelenna Azubuike is expected to be out for at least a little while, meaning Morrow's playing time is relatively safe for now. He's struggled to find his shot thus far as a starter - while you should expect that to be temporary, the Warriors do have some tough upcoming matchups. Week 4: @CLE, @BOS, POR

• Beno Udrih - Udrih is starting, playing plenty, and delivering good numbers while Kevin Martin's hand heals. Exclusive, in-depth analysis: he shouldn't be unrostered in two-thirds of Yahoo! leagues. Week 4: CHI, @DAL, @HOU

• Matt Barnes - Barnes' versatility has proved invaluable for the Magic during their struggles with injuries and has translated to the box score; he's averaged 11.6 points, 1 three, 8.3 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in his seven starts. Rashard Lewis is back, but he'll rejoin the lineup at power forward, leaving Barnes to handle the other forward spot. Week 4: CHA, OKC, @BOS, @TOR.

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Here are your major news items of the day and a quick run-down of notable status updates for Saturday games.

• Things have gone from bad to worse for Chris Paul in the span of a few days. First, he had to deal with the potential reality of Rajon Rondo's (alleged) assertion that he'd never win a ring. Then his frustration was amplified by the team's removal of Byron Scott without consulting him or asking for his thoughts on the move. Professional frustration is one thing, but physical pain is entirely another. Paul was carried off the court on Saturday after sustaining a severely sprained left ankle - an official timeline has yet to be released, but the injury could sideline him for up to two weeks. Clearly this is terrible news for all involved parties, but if there is any silver lining for fantasy owners, it's the timing. Although the Hornets do play four times in Week 4, it's followed by back-to-back two-game schedules in Weeks 5 and 6, so the actual number of games off will at least be somewhat limited. At this point, all you can do is get him on your bench and keep an eye out for a concrete update.

There's no silver lining for the Hornets in general, who now must go through the initial stages of the adjustment process with their new coach while their floor general is sidelined. Darren Collison makes sense as an immediate pickup as he fills in for Paul, with an eye on Week 4 - he'll play plenty and the schedule looks good (LAC, PHO, ATL, @MIA). With four combined games in Weeks 5 and 6, however, there's only potential beyond Week 4 if Paul is very slow to return. Collison had 18 points, two assists, and two steals in 26 minutes on Friday, his first extended playing time of the season. 

• Josh Howard could be out "a week or a month" according to Mark Cuban in an effort to allow his left ankle to heal completely (read: he's out indefinitely). Howard's first attempted comeback was short-lived, as he was limping in the second of the Mavs' back-to-back games on Wednesday and was then inactive on Friday. Rodrigue Beaubois made his second start of the season on Friday (15 minutes, 9 points, 1 three, 1 assist) and will combine with Jason Terry and Jose Juan Barea to absorb the excess minutes. The temptation will certainly be there to drop Howard outright, but in standard leagues I'd suggest waiting for the first status update. Any additional setbacks would likely justify a drop, at least in h2h leagues.

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Another Thursday rundown, featuring news of the day and recapping the most pertinitent information to arise from a full slate of Wednesday games.

• The struggling Hornets have parted ways with Byron Scott. The team has been average on offense and surprisingly bad on defense. While some have attributed the slow start to Scott's no longer being able to motivate the team, David West told reporters today that there were "philosophical differences" between Scott and some of the players. Current GM and former assistant Jeff Bower will take over as the team's head coach, and he's largely responsible for assembling the current roster. There's not a depth of talent to be mined here, but fantasy owners can at least hope that the switch allows Chris Paul, West, and Emeka Okafor to maximize their talents. A few key quotes from the press conference:

Bower: Bower said rather than Scott's up-tempo approach on offense, he would prefer to see "steady pace with flow to the game," a better transition from offense to defense.

Bower: "What I'm not going to do is turn away from things that have been successful." 

West: "I think we got to the point to where things we were doing just weren't effective."

• There are only two games on tap for Thursday, and the only notable status updates involve the Lakers' frontcourt. Although he's probably not out until Christmas, Pau Gasol's timetable remains indefinite. Andrew Bynum is expected to be back in the lineup for their matchup with the Suns.

• If you thought it couldn't get any worse in Oakland, then click here.

• What to do with Elton Brand... In a nutshell, the Princeton offense works best when their is only one post player on the floor, and the 76ers currently start two (Brand and Samuel Dalembert). The Princeton offense necessitates that you have a three-point shooter (or three) on the floor to spread things out for cutting players and the single post option - Jason Kapono is the sole long-range sniper on the team, and he runs with the second unit. When Marresse Speights is on the floor, it's often in a small lineup where he is the single "big" and Kapono is also involved. To me, it's a no-brainer that the starters are struggling, particulary relative to the team's second unit. What is Eddie Jordan's take?

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It was something of a slow night for an NBA Tuesday, with only 12 teams in action, but there were still plenty of fantasy plot-lines in play. Let's get to the quick hitters...

• Joakim Noah appears to be entering full breakout mode. A monster line Tuesday (12 points, 21 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks) gave him 37 boards over the past two games and pushed his season averages to 11.4 points on 59-percent shooting, 12.4 boards, and 2.3 blocks in 32 minutes per game. With Tyrus Thomas sidelined, Noah truly has a chance to shine.

• A solid game from Taj Gibson on Tuesday (10 points, 6 boards, 3 steals, 1 block). While foul trouble has helped limit his contributions in four starts (26 minutes, 8 points, 5.3 boards, 1.3 steals, 0.8 blocks), the opportunity for playing time isn't going anywhere for the next month or so.

• Another non-greatest-third-round-fantasy-pick-ever game from Carmelo Anthony (20 points, 8-of-22 shooting, 3 assists, 4 turnovers), but who's counting?

• Apparently J.R. Smith had some rust/butterflies to work out. Hopefully game one took care of most of it (1-of-9 FG, 0-of-3 3PT).

• Another day, another very good line from Brendan Haywood (13 points, 11 boards, 4 blocks). His percent-owned number has been climbing (currently at 63%), but not at the rate that 11.5 points, 10.8 boards, and 2.4 blocks per game warrants.

• Shall we blame Gilbert Arenas' 12 turnovers (and 7-of-20 shooting) on a strained left calf that was supposed to keep him out of the lineup?

• Caron Butler did not record an assist for the fourth time in six games, this time despite logging 45 minutes of playing time. He now has four assists in 261 minutes, good for a per-48 minute average of 0.7 (his per-48 average over the past four seasons was 4.7). Clearly something is off, but it's still early, he's adjusting to a new offensive system, and he's missing his buddy Antawn Jamison. Let's give it a few games after Jamison's return before we assume his assist-to-turnover ratio will remain around 0.2:1 for the entire season.

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