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Andrei Kirilenko: Off Bench Again
Update: Kirilenko was brought off the bench Sunday in Utah's preseason victory over Portland.
Analysis: Kirilenko had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting with three rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocked shots in 24 minutes. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is considering Kirilenko for a bench role with C.J. Miles starting at small forward.
Kyle Korver: Big Game off Bench
Update: Korver scored 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in 20 minutes Sunday in Utah's victory over Portland.
Analysis: Korver will not see as much playing time in Utah as he did when he was with the Sixers, but remains a 3-point threat in limited minutes. Even with Matt Harpring's injury opening up some minutes, we expect that playing time to go to C.J. Miles.
Carlos Boozer: (Hamstring) Makes Debut
Update: Boozer (hamstring) made his preseason debut Sunday in Utah's victory over Portland.
Analysis: Boozer was in the starting lineup after missing the Jazz' first two preseason games. He had 12 points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes, indicating the hamstring is not a big deal.
Chauncey Billups: Tweaks Ankle
Update: Billups tweaked his ankle during the third quarter of Saturday night's preseason game against Milwaukee, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Billups did not return to the game after the injury. There's no word on the severity of the injury, but Booth Newspapers reports that it didn't appear to be too serious.
Sebastian Telfair: Suspension
Update: Telfair, who was sentenced last month to probation for a misdemeanor possession of a loaded handgun, will be suspended to start the regular season, the New York Daily News reports.
Analysis: The league will announce the suspension sometime before the start of Minnesota's regular season Oct. 29.
Eric Snow: To Become an Analyst for NBA-TV
Update: Snow (knee) has reached a deal with the Cavaliers to be allowed to become an analyst for NBA-TV, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Snow is still on the Cavs' roster despite having a career-ending knee injury. The team is awaiting a decision on a disability claim with the league in hopes of having Snow's $7.3 million due him this season wiped off the books.
Michaela Pavlickova: Limited at Saturday's Practice
Update: Pavlovic (ankle) did not take part in contact drills at Saturday's practice, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Pavlovic missed Friday's preseason game against Boston because of the injury.
Ben Wallace: Ankle and Back Issues
Update: Wallace did not take part in contact drills on Saturday because of a sprained ankle and sore back, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Wallace was limited to just six minutes in Friday's preseason game against Boston because of the injuries.
Louis Williams: (Chin) Plays Sunday
Update: Williams (lacerated chin) played 23 minutes Sunday in Philadelphia's preseason victory over Toronto.
Analysis: Williams left Friday's preseason game because of a lacerated chin that required stitches. He had 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting with two assists and five turnovers on Sunday.
Marcus Banks: Starts Again
Update: Banks started at point guard for the second consecutive preseason game on Sunday in Miami's loss to New Jersey.
Analysis: Banks had 19 points (7-of-10 FG, 2-of-4 3pt) with four assists and one turnover in 30 minutes. With Chris Quinn out because of an ankle injury, Banks has been getting the most playing time at point guard. Rookie Mario Chalmers had eight points, three assists and three turnovers in 18 minutes.
Udonis Haslem: (Foot) Starts and Plays Sunday
Update: Haslem (foot) made his preseason debut on Sunday in Miami's loss to New Jersey.
Analysis: Haslem started at power forward and scored four points with six rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes. So far, Michael Beasley has yet to start a game, but he will eventually be the every day starter at power forward.
Vince Carter: (Hamstring) Plays 30 Minutes
Update: Carter (hamstring) started at shooting guard and played 30 minutes Sunday in New Jersey's victory over Miami in London.
Analysis: Carter tweaked the hamstring during the first meeting between these two teams in Paris on Thursday. There was no hint of it on Sunday as Carter hit 5-of-10 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Jianlian Yi: Preseason Debut
Update: Yi (ankle) made his preseason debut on Sunday in New Jersey's victory over Miami.
Analysis: Yi started at power forward and had 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 29 minutes. He was held out of the first game between the same two teams on Thursday, after he sustained an ankle injury in late September.
Jamal Sampson: (Wrist) Out Sunday
Update: Sampson missed Sunday's game against Philadelphia because of a sore wrist, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Sampson was a late addition to the Raptors after rookie Nathan Jawai tested for heart irregularities.
Joey Graham: (Hamstring) Out Sunday
Update: Graham (hamstring) did not play in Sunday's preseason game against Philadelphia.
Analysis: Graham has missed over a week because of the injury.
Elton Brand: 10 Points Sunday
Update: Brand scored 10 points and collected nine rebounds on 3-of-8 shooting Sunday.
Analysis: Brand has been deferring scoring in the preseason. Outside of Friday's 24 point effort against the running Knicks, Brand has been allowing his teammates to handle much of the scoring load.
Andre Iguodala: Deferring Scoring in Preseason
Update: Brand scored 10 points and collected nine rebounds on 3-of-8 shooting Sunday.
Analysis: Brand has been deferring scoring in the preseason. Outside of Friday's 24 point effort against the running Knicks, Brand has been allowing his teammates to handle much of the scoring load.
Andre Iguodala: Blocks Could Be Up This Year
Update: Iguodala had a rough time finding his shot Sunday, but was able to contribute in other ways. Scoring only 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting, Iguodala expended himself by racking up five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.
Analysis: When not matching up against the league's best swing men, Iguodala will be giving lesser shooting guards nightmares on the court. His move from small forward to the smaller shooting guards should give this athletic freak an opportunity to up his block numbers this year.
Thaddeus Young: Leads Sixers Over Toronto
Update: Young led the Sixers past Toronto on Sunday. He racked up a team-high 17 points to go with three 3-pointers, three rebounds, 3 assists, zero turnovers, 2 steals, and one block.
Analysis: The kid is a monster. He is one of the most efficient up-and-coming players in the league. Young, by all notions, should be the least productive member of this team's starting unit, but he has been their most productive so far this preseason. Move him up a round on your draft boards.
Rafael Araujo: Released By T-Wolves
Update: Araujo has been released by Minnesota, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: He's likely headed to Europe, as he's reportedly had a guaranteed offer from a foreign club.
Mike Dunleavy: Hopes to Return "In a Week or So"
Update: Dunleavy (knee tendinitis) hopes to return "in a week or so," the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Dunleavy hasn't been able to practice yet, but does about 45 minutes of drills after practice.
Troy Murphy: Close to Returning
Update: Murphy (sore Achilles' tendon) is closest among the three injured Pacers (Mike Dunleavy, Travis Diener) to returning to action, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Murphy played through this injury last season. "(The injury has) been there and I played through it last season," said Murphy, who is expected to start at power forward. "Then in the summer, it wasn't really corrected the way it should have been. We'll get a handle on it in the preseason."
Travis Diener: Out At Least Two More Weeks
Update: Diener (foot) is out for at least two more weeks, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Analysis: Diener has been slow to recover after having bone spurs removed from his left big toe in May. Conditioning might difficult for him initially. "The whole key is to get back into shape and back in the rhythm of playing again," Diener said. "It should come back to me pretty quick when I start practicing."
Etan Thomas: Center-by-Committee
Update: Wizards coach Eddie Jordan plans to use a committee approach, including Thomas, to fill the center position, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: With Brendan Haywood sidelined by a wrist injury, Thomas has started each of the last two preseason games. But Jordan plans to give Andray Blatche and Darius Songaila looks at center. The bottom line is that we shouldn't see one player benefit from Haywood's loss.
Udonis Haslem: (Foot) Cleared to Play
Update: Haslem (foot) has been cleared to play in Sunday's preseason game against the Nets, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Haslem has missed the first two preseason games because of a sprained left foot. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra will spot Haslem at center in the next few exhibition games to gauge the viability of using a smaller front line.
Tracy McGrady: Sees Action Against Celtics
Update: McGrady (knee) played 12 minutes against the Celtics Saturday, scoring 10 points. It was McGrady's first action of the preseason.
Analysis: McGrady didn't expect to play, but had a good workout before the game. His knee still bothers him, but he says it's more of a mental issue than a structural one. We'll continue to track him throughout the preseason, but that he was able to play and perform at a decent level is a good sign.
Carlos Boozer: (Hamstring) Will Play Sunday
Update: Boozer (hamstring) will play in Sunday's preseason game against Portland, the Deseret News reports.
Analysis: Boozer, who missed the Jazz' first two preseason games, practiced on Friday and Saturday and feels well enough to play against the Blazers.
Matt Harpring: Will Miss Next Four Games At Least
Update: Harpring (ankle, infection) will not play in the next four preseason games, the Deseret News reports.
Analysis: Harpring is likely to miss more than the preseason games as he continues to insist there's no timetable for his return.
Udonis Haslem: (Foot) Practices Saturday
Update: Haslem (foot) practiced Saturday after missing the Heat's previous workout and may play Sunday against the Nets, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: The Heat have been using Haslem at power forward and center when he's been able to practice, but the need at center grew larger this week when we learned Jamaal Magloire will miss two months because of a broken hand.
Tim Thomas: (Groin) Misses Practice
Update: Thomas (groin) sat out practice on Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: Thomas suffered the injury during Thursday night's preseason game.
Paul Davis: Sprained Finger
Update: Davis did not practice Saturday because of a sprained finger, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: There was no word on the severity of the injury, but the Clippers are awaiting the results of an X-ray to determine whether or not Davis suffered any torn ligaments.
Marcus Camby: Bruised Heel
Update: Camby did not practice Saturday because of a bruised right heel, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: Camby could be out for four or five days.
Lamar Odom: Practicing With Second Unit
Update: Odom practiced with the Lakers' second unit on Saturday and coach Phil Jackson noted that Odom "would really help us" as a sixth man, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Analysis: Odom has struggled mightily during the Lakers' first two preseason games, and a shift to a sixth man role may actually help his stats. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, expect Odom to play at least 30 minutes per game.

Feed Date : 10/12/2008   News Date: 10/12/2008    
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