Weekly Forecast -- Week 4

Note: I'll revisit Week 3's forecast and recap tomorrow.

thenopp vs. the Later Hosens

General: This will be a great matchup between two of the league's most successful franchises. At this early point in the season, they're neck and neck in the middle of the pack. The Hosen will be revitalized by an infusion of talent from Odensque, and will be especially delighted to see a BOS-DET game, in which 5 Hosen will figure, on Thursday's sparse NBA schedule.

Injuries: everyone's healthy except thenopp's Arenas

Categories:

thenopp should win BLK, FT, and FT%

the Hosens should win FG, AST, STL, and FGM

Toss ups -- PTS, 3s, OREB, DREB, TO, PF, FG%

(Sheed - now a Hosens)

What to watch for: the big trade should have an immediate impact on the Hosen. The frontcourt is still sparse, and we're unsure if Kwame is the answer. It sure appears that Kevin Love is not. We'll also be looking to see how the reconstituted backcourt, with new acquisitions Telfair, Sergio, and Mo-Will, performs, along with a Rafer coming back from suspension.

For thenopp, Joakim, A-Carter and Boobie have been notably unproductive - another poor week and we'll expect to see them in the FAP. A week with only three games featuring red-hot JamsCraw and Z-Bo will require others to step up. Also, Barnes, and perhaps Barbosa are back for PHX, and that means G-Hill's production (and perhaps Kleiza's) will suffer. Jermaine O'Neal had a nice week: can he keep it up?

Fearless Prediction: We think thenopp will win the battle of the boards, the Hosen will win PTS, and the PCTs and Negatives will split evenly - Final Score: thenopp 9 - Hosen 6

LATE NOTE: I just see the Hosens have wisely picked up Rasho and dropped Telfair. This could actually tip the DREB/OREB balance in the Hosen's favor, probably OREB - revised prediction -- thenopp 8, Hosen 7

-------------------------------------

Mongoose vs. Les Digits

General: This should be a close one also - the 'goose has a very slight games advantage, including an 8-4 Sunday advantage. However, nagging injuries to C-Vill and D-Will, along with Mehmet's family issues in Turkey may leave them a little bit short of the Digits. The Digits only have 3 games from Amare, but should be buoyed up front by the return of Ba-Boone and TimThom.

Injuries: For Mongoose - D-Will and C-Vill are day to day, and Mehmet's in Turkey for some unknown period of time. For Les Digits, Manu is still out for a while, J-Smoove is out, probably for the week, and Josh Boone is day to day. Also, Shaq may get suspended for his brutal attack on former Spoonful Rodney Stuckey in Sunday's game.

Categories:

Mongoose should win 3s, AST, BLK, FGM, FT%

Les Digits should win DREB, FT, TO, PF

Toss ups -- FG%, PTS, OREB, STL

(Les Hughes)

What to watch for: Mongoose is the only team paying any attention that has yet to make a move. We humbly suggest that it might be time to cut bait on Turiaf and Brandon Bass, and to think hard about trading or dropping some of the lesser PGs on the squad (E-Wat, Farmar). We're interested to see if Tyrus Thomas shows any signs of life this week - if not, it may be time to cast him into the FAP. Darrell Arthur is also not lighting the world on fire with his lackluster play.

Les Digits are very excited to see what new pickup JaVale McGee has to offer in four WAS games (which of course means four games for Jamison). L-Hughes is looking like a productive asset, while SweetNickyC and Superintendent Chalmers are struggling. George 'Capitol' Hill didn't look good in Sunday's game, and Les Digits will not be particularly patient with him.

Fearless Prediction: Again, Les Digits are scrappy and play with great heart - we think they'll pull this one off - Final Score: Les Digits 8 - Mongoose 6

-------------------------------------

play my$hkin flute vs. Nor'Easter

General:  If ever there was an opportunity to beat Nor'Easter (who should wake up tomorrow in first place), this would be the week. With only 3 games from Howard, Duncan, Nash, and Devin Harris, they might be vulnerable in some of the counting categories. Fortunately for them, PMP is not the team to do it, at least not in week 4. For my$hkin is both similarly big-heavy, and also has a number of 3 game weeks from key contributors (notably Dirk, AI, A-Ig, OJ, and G-Wall). With Dunleavy still out, very high negatives, and insufficient backcourt depth, Nor'Easter should move to 4-0.

Injuries: Parker and Monta remain out for Nor'Easter. My$hkin's Dunleavy and Wilcox are still injured, and Barbosa is out with a personal matter.

Categories:

my$hkin should win DREB, STL, TOs, FT%

Nor'Easter should win AST, FTS, PTS

Toss ups -- BLK, 3s, OREB, FGM, FG%, PF

(Nor'Easter's Superman)

What to watch for: Nor'Easter's Aaron Brooks will return to the bench with Rafer's return, but that might not be a problem, as fellow 'Easter Randy Foye can attest - he's been shockingly productive as a sixth man, and has become yet another productive member of the squad. Maggette and Gooden are back from minor injuries, but have not yet been fully effective.

As for my$hkin, it's probably time to cut bait on 'the Thrilla'. OJ Mayo has been spectacular, and Luc-Richard has thriven as a starter in MIL. He's a 'Scott Skiles guy', apparently, meaning that the Bucks will lose tons of games needlessly, but Skiles is white and 'tough' so that's OK. We'll see if a healthy C-Vill eats into his minutes. DuDu is looking fantastic for the high flying Knicks, and A-Ig is finally putting it together in many, many cats.

Fearless Prediction: Final Score: Nor'Easter 8 - my$hkin 6

-------------------------------------

tsaogrip 0002 vs. garbage speakers

General: We think tsaogrip may be the 2nd best team in the league, but they don't know it yet. They're being killed by the absence of Harrington and Redd; it seems, unless g-s actually sets their lineup, they'll have another week to recover. If the speakers do participate, it could be a close one, as CP3, Al-Jeff, and the 2 Knicks SFs only have 3 games. It's a 3-game week for the speakers' LeBron and Andris however, but nonetheless, g-s would have a good shot at the bigman cats and FG%. Combine that with a few negatives, and they could win.

Injuries: Harrington's still out with his back, but Redd should be back sometime this week for tsaogrip. The Speakers' J-Rich and Garcia should be out for g-s, and AK-47 is day to day. Also, McDyess is going to be out for a bit.

Categories:

tsaogrip should win PTS, AST, FT%, FGM

garbage speakers should win DREB, STL, BLK

Toss ups -- OREB, FTM, 3s, FG%, TO, PF

(Finley 0002)

What to watch for: Finley's been a terrific pickup, Felton's improving, Tayshaun  and J-How have been fantastic, and even Yi has put up some (occasional) good lines. We see no obvious weaknesses, though we're curious to see how Redd returns.

We're watching to see if the speakers set their lineup in Week 4. Also, they should cut Marcus Williams, and perhaps Antonio Daniels. Noc and Sessions have played well, and Jeff Green has stepped up recently. We're curious to see how minutes shape up for S-Hawes, Korver, and Gomes

Fearless Prediction: We still don't think that lineups will be set - Final Score: tsaogrip 10 - speakers 4

-------------------------------------

odensque vs. the Lovin' Spoonful

General:  After a down to the wire battle with thenopp, the Spoonful hopes to have a less tense matchup with the tricky, and newly odened, odensque. Its unlikely the Spoons can compete in the bigmancats this week against the likes of Brand, Big-Z, B-Mill, and Oden, but the other counting cats should be quite in the Spoons' column. The negatives and %s should determine whether it's a 8-6 victory, or a true blowout.

Injuries: Little K-Mart is out for the Spoons, Battier for odensque.

Categories:

odensque should win OREB, DREB, BLK, TO

the Spoons should win PTS, FTM, FGM, AST, STL, 3s, FT%

Toss ups -- PF, FG%

(the disappointing B-Sim)

What to watch for: Oden has looked fantastic in his last 2 games, but below-expected production from the Matrix, Big Ben and Brand has made things difficult. Jamario may have lost his starting gig, and B-Simm looks awful. Calderon should be back, but he needs more assisty help if they're to compete.

The Spoonful is curious about Anthony Morrow and whether he'll really contribute. Having Quinn, Mason, L-Will, and Morrow is somewhat ridiculous, as they're all kinda the same. Look for some or all of them to be dropped. Mediocre PFs Landry and Warrick need to produce as well, or they'll again be sent to the FAP.

Fearless Prediction:  Final Score: Spoonful 9 - odensque 6