(Editors Note: Brandon is traveling this week, so I’m just publishing his work from this weekend.  Do enjoy.)

Aloha from Hawaii!  I’m here on the Garden Island Kuaui just before the holidays.  If you plan on flying somewhere for the holidays, I pity you.

Does it seem to you guys like fantasy basketball season is entering that “ho-hum” stage every fantasy season eventually enters?  Maybe it’s just me, but things seem really boring in the NBA.  Let’s blame the Mitchell Report and football playoffs for that.  In any case, here we are in the event you’ve become too bored with it to pay much attention as the holidays approach us. 

Here’s the rundown for next week’s Christmassy schedule (12/24-12/30):

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

Isn’t it sad that the first thing I notice is “bench Eddy Curry?”

Hot

DESHAWN STEVENSON! Whoa, what happened here?  22.5 PPG and 5.5 3PTM this past week?  Don’t ask question, just pick him up.  Now.

Yao Ming must be eating his Wheaties too.  A couple of big rebounding games in the last week with nice block numbers get him on this list.  He has to be without question the top center in fantasy basketball.  What more can you ask than 24.5 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 3.5 BPG, and 79% from the line from a big?  And the 79% is BAD for Yao.

Speaking of bigs, who took a late round flier on Kurt Thomas in deep leagues?  Me.  He is probably available in all or most of your 12-14 team leagues, and he shouldn’t be.  He did miss his last game against Utah with a sprained ankle, but expects to be back Wednesday.  The numbers for last week: 13.5 PPG, 8 RPG, and 2.5 BPG on perfect charity stripe shooting and 67% from the field.  Gimme some of that.

I know the general consensus around the fantasy basketball world is “stay away from every player with “New York” across his chest” and that’s more or less correct, but take a look at Jamal Crawford: 23 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2 steals, and 2.5 threes made last week.  At least one Knick is worth owning.  Somebody has to score all the points right?

A big comeback is in the works.  Michael Jordan?  No, but he did practice with the Bobcats a few days ago.  It’s Kirk Hinrich.  He had 14.3 PPG and 10 APG throughout the last week.  He’s finally back.  Hopefully you bought low on him.

Cold

Kevin Garnett.  Yes, Kevin Garnett.  Why?  Fourteen points, seven rebounds and less than four assists per game, that’s why.  What is even worse is the fact the provided zero blocks.  Zero.  The scariest part is that it likely won’t change any time soon.  Boston is steamrolling through teams, so why change?  We know he will pick it up, but he is cold right now.

Jermaine O’Neal kind of makes this list.  The points and blocks are there, but 5.3 RPG in the last week?  Not sure I like that too much.  Be wary, that one rebound (in 29 minutes!) game scares me.

1.3 cheers for Ben Wallace.  1.3 points per game in the last week that is.  Just seven rebounds to go along with that as well.  Yuck.  He’s most likely droppable by now unless you need his hustle stats.

I have never liked Rasheed Wallace in fantasy and here is a good reason why: he hasn’t had double-digit rebound numbers since December 5th.  He also put an impressive two-point, four-rebounds showing last Friday.  Nice, ‘Sheed.  All that on 35% shooting for the week.

Injury Report

It looks like Ray Allen is set to come back.  Hopefully his percentages are too.  He’s probably a safe bet to start, but watch the percentages.

Antonio Daniels is out 2-4 weeks.  Talk about some Washington point guard issues.  Roger Mason Jr. and Nick Young will see most of the burn in his place, but that’s a situation I would steer clear of unless I am desperate.

Pau Gasol is expected to be up to a week.  He jammed a big toe, the big pansy.

Tony Parker missed a big game against the Suns and is expected to be out until the weekend at the earliest.  Be careful to monitor this, as we all know the Spurs won’t rush him back in December.

Best of luck this week, and a Merry Christmas to everyone.  Hope you’re all having a great holiday season.