Don't be too alarmed when you glance at the box score and see that Richard Jefferson played just nine minutes against the Lakers, as he was a victim of foul trouble after picking up his third with more than nine minutes left in the second quarter. He didn't get hurt. You should be alarmed in the future, however, when you need a big performance from a player and he's going up against the Lakers' stifling defense. They allow 96.2 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting from the field, force 16.5 turnovers per game and often neutralize a fantasy player's usual awesomeness. This was the case Sunday across the board for the Bucks, as there was not a single member of their starting five who scored in double digits. Jefferson, Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd combined for 11 points. One lesson we've learned so far in this young season is that if we're ever deliberating between players and option A is facing the Lakers, go with option B. As for the Bucks' point guard saga, Ramon Sessions (10 points, 6 assists in 28 minutes) outplayed starter Luke Ridnour (7 points, 4 assists in 21 minutes), even though Ridnour has been the better of the two in recent games. This is one of the most fickle time-shares in basketball, as Scott Skiles can be unpredictable, and both have played well enough to warrant time, but not well enough to snatch the job entirely. They will continue to kill each other's value all season, and I'm not entirely sure that a go-to guy will emerge and earn 35 minutes per contest.
Under the Boards
Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to give the Blazers the win against the Raptors. He's scored in double figures in five of his past six games, averaging three 3s per contest in that span. He should be owned in all formats, and feel confident starting him, especially right now when he has the hot hand. … Jermaine O'Neal scored a season-high 24 points with eight rebounds and six blocks, an encouraging sign to his owners. It's not the most encouraging sign to Chris Bosh owners, though, as he scored 19 points with five rebounds while J.O. went off. Bosh is still an MVP-caliber player, both in the real and fantasy world, although when O'Neal is healthy and playing at his best, it could to cut into Bosh's numbers. … Marquis Daniels played 50 minutes in the Pacers' overtime loss to the Celtics, scoring 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists. Danny Granger is still the guy in Indiana, although Daniels has become a critical part of the lineup, and is shining with Mike Dunleavy out of the picture until who-knows-when. The 50 minutes played indicate his opportunity to produce will continue, so start Daniels with confidence. … David Lee went crazy yet again, snaring 19 rebounds against the Pistons. He's averaging 15.8 rebounds per game in his past five contests, and now has center eligibility, a huge bonus. Kudos if you were patient during his early-season slump and hung onto him, as he seems primed to continue getting big minutes and thrive under Mike D'Antoni.
Josh Whitling is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.