Brad Miller is out four weeks with an injured left foot. He was diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia.

Joel Przybilla missed the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday due to a lower abdominal injury. He is expected to be out for a week. 

Shaquille O’Neal missed Sunday’s game with a bruised left knee and was scheduled to have an MRI for precautionary reasons on Monday, November 6.

Fantasy Lowdown:

Wow, it’s only the first week of fantasy basketball and we have three of the top 15 centers out with injuries already and one of them is not Marcus Camby!

The biggest shakedown in the fantasy b-ball world is in Sactown with Brad Miller out for four weeks.  Shareef Abdur-Rahim will be manning the middle with Miller out and Kenny Thomas will continue to start at the 4. SAR will soon gain center eligibility, which will add to his flexibility and value. So far this year, SAR has been averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds and Kenny Thomas is pumping out 4 points and 7 rebs per game. With Miller out, SAR should average 13 points and 7 rebs and Thomas should average close to a double-double each night with 9 points and 10 rebs. You should pick up SAR (if he’s available on the waiver wire) if you are in deep league.

The biggest fantasy winner in the Kings front court is Ron Artest. Ron-Ron in the first 3 games of the season is averaging 15 points, 9 rebs, 4 assists, 4.7 steals and 1.3 blocks! The only knock is that his 28.3 FG% and 63.6 FT% are less than desirable. Artest will take the role of Brad Miller as the passing forward in the high post. For H2H leagues, Sacramento’s games schedule for the next four weeks is (3-3-3-4), so ride the Artest roller coaster to its apex over the next month.

Jamaal Malgoire will be manning the middle with Joel Przybilla out for the week. Portland has a 4 game week and Jamal should be considered if you are desperate for a center.  Once Przybilla is healthy then Jamal will take his familiar spot back on the bench.

Udonis Haslem manned the middle for the Heat with Shaq out on Sunday. How did Haslem fare? Does 17 points and 16 rebs satisfy the fantasy palate? Yes, very tasty. The Heat do not play until Tuesday, November 7 against the Seattle Supersonics. Do not be surprised if Shaq sits out another game and suit up for the game on Friday against the Nets. If Shaq misses more games, which he will, and Haslem continues to patrol the middle in his absence, then Haslem should gain center eligibility sometime during the season.