We’re almost at the finish line and it’s time to start readying the troops for the final countdown.

How’s that for some drama?  It’s time for any last minute trades, so assess your rosters, make that deal and keep your eyes peeled to the waiver wire.  This is where championships are won, especially in H2H, where a good chunk of the best players in the league will sit out the fantasy finals.  The good news is that both conferences are set up for some tight races with a lot of jostling around with seeding, so hopefully this year more than ever we see very few guys sitting out their last few team games.  We can only hope so.

The Fig Cap: Who knew?

Here’s the schedule for Week 19 (3/3-3/9):

Four games:  Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Seattle Supersonics, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz
Three games:  Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers, Washington Wizards

So for the second week in a row, no two game teams.  That’s always a good thing.

Hot

We’ll start this week in San Antonio where the Spurs might have played themselves into the role of the favorite in the West, if there is one.  Tim Duncan has been a big part of that.  In his last three games, he’s averaged 24 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.0 spg, and 3.7 bpg.  Add in some great percentages and folks we have our Stud of the Week.  That’s stat-sheet filling at its finest.

Wow, give me some of that Andre Miller action.  He’s suddenly turned into a scorer, averaging 25 ppg in his last three games.  Of course he added 8 apg to that as well.  If you are looking to make a last second trade, maybe you should try to draw upon this and include him in whatever deal you are trying to get done.

Willie Green is another hot Sixer.  How hot?  Oh, just 20.3 ppg hot.  He’s been shooting a great percentage too over those three games.  These are the little pickups you need to make when it comes down to crunch time.

Well he’s been playing a boatload of minutes and it’s showing.  Monta Ellis has been on a nice tear.  Over the last three games, he’s averaged 27.3 ppg and a nice surprising 6 apg.  That’s a great complement to teammate Baron Davis, who put up 28 ppg and 7.7 apg.  We believe.

Tim Thomas put together a little bit of a surprise week.  Over his last three, he’s poured in 18.7 ppg and 9 rpg.  Of course you don’t own Thomas for that, but more for his 1.7 threes a game.  The three-point percentage isn’t where you want it, but at least he’s putting the ball in the net.

My sleeper of the week is easy.  I know own him two leagues, and maybe more soon.  Drumroll… TRAVIS DIENER!  Yes, he’s filling in nicely for Jamaal Tinsley, who is out for who knows how long.  His stat line won’t blow you away, but the 5.7 apg in the last three is nice.  He had a great 22 point, 9 assist game on Wednesday, and will see plenty of minutes until Tins comes back.  Anyone know when that is?  Yeah, go grab him.

Cold

It’s been a disappointing few games for Kevin Martin.  Somehow he’s only put up 13.7 ppg in 28 mpg.  Why no minutes?  Good question.  Maybe he’s a good buy-low candidate if you think he’ll rebound.  At least we know his team won’t have to sit him in the last weeks of the regular season.

Hey, if we’re going to jump on one King, why not jump on two?  That’s right, we’re looking at you Ron Artest.  Last three games:  20 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.7 spg.  The scoring isn’t a problem, but you need more boards and steals from Artest.  Another good buy-low guy if you have the onions to trade for him.

One guy who just hasn’t ever picked it up is Kevin Garnett.  I’d say it’s time to worry, but we’re almost done with the season.  He’s been down here more than once already.  Sadly, he never got it going, and even sadder for his owners, he won’t care because the C’s are winning.  We’ve come to expect more than 13 ppg and 8 rpg, but not recently.  That’s what 45% shooting will do to you.

He was playing some good ball, but after a 4 point clunker in his last time out, Marvin Williams finds his name down here.  He missed his last game with flu-like symptoms, and maybe that’s a good thing.  In his last two, he’s averaging a whopping 10 ppg and 5.5 rpg.  Impressive.

We’ll finish the week off with Ben Gordon.  What a nice 15 ppg and 4.7 apg you put up in your last three.  Keep that up big guy, and now there are two of you in the Windy City.  The other is named Larry Hughes.  At least he’s playing good ball.

Injury Report

Of course Yao Ming is the big news.  Out for the season. This means Luis Scola should start to log some big minutes, and you can expect double-double-like numbers if he plays 30-32 mpg.

Still no timetable on Gerald Wallace.  He may not play again this year, so watch out for that news.

In Portland, Brandon Roy will miss a few games with his bum ankle.  It doesn’t appear to be incredibly serious.

Jason Richardson had to leave his last game with a right eye contusion and small corneal abrasion.

Mike Miller is likely to miss a few more games with his back spasms.

Anderson Varejao is back, but not worth picking up just yet.

The Nets think Devin Harris might be able to play as soon as this weekend.  He might have minimal value.